Eagles ground Falcons
By Zach Berman
PHILADELPHIA — This is might be a new season, but it didn’t seem that way in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 18-12 season-opening win over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. There were so many reminders of the Super Bowl, from the pregame celebration, to the Eagles taking a late fourth-quarter lead, to the defense making a crucial stop, to Doug Pederson calling a variation of the Philly Special.
And if that wasn’t enough, the game was decided just as it was in the Eagles’ postseason victory over the Falcons in January — with a Matt Ryan incompletion to Julio Jones in the end zone. It was even the same end zone. The Eagles advanced to 1-0, showing similar resilience to last season.
Jay Ajayi rushed for an 11yard touchdown with 2 minutes, 19 seconds on the clock to put the Eagles ahead 18-12 after a two-point conversion. It was the Eagles’ biggest lead of the game, and all they needed was the defense to keep Atlanta out of the end zone — just like they did on the final drive of the playoffs last season. The Falcons drove into scoring distance, but the Eagles defense proved clutch when it mattered most.
Ajayi’s two touchdowns led the Eagles. Nick Foles finished 19 of 34 for 117 yards and one interception. The Eagles defense kept the Falcons to one touchdown despite five red-zone trips.
The Eagles needed a jolt in their first meaningful game since the Super Bowl. So on the night fans walked by a statue of the “Philly Special,” Pederson called a variation of that famous play at a key moment of the game.
On a third-and-5 at the Falcons’ 41-yard line in the third quarter, Foles handed the ball to Corey Clement, who pitched the ball to Nelson Agholor reversing field, who threw it to Foles down the right sideline. Foles, just like on Feb. 4, was wide open. The 15-yard gain gave the Eagles a first down, but even more, it gave the Eagles life. A crowd that sat through a weather delay and a sluggish first half came alive with Philly’s favorite play. The Eagles carried that momentum into the end zone five plays later when Ajayi pushed through for a score.
The Eagles overcame a sluggish offense in the first half and foolish mistakes in the second half. They almost lost their lead in the third quarter after the defense forced Atlanta to punt, except first-year safety Tre Sullivan was pushed into the bouncing ball. It hit Sullivan’s foot, and the Falcons recovered with a chance to score. Rasul Douglas intercepted Matt Ryan at the 4yard line to prevent Atlanta from scoring.
Even that play couldn’t help the Eagles seal the game. Foles tried finding rookie Dallas Goedert down the seam in the Eagles territory, except Falcons defensive back Damonte Kazee popped Goedert just as the balls hit Goedert’s hands. The second-round pick lost possession of the ball, and linebacker Deion Jones swiped the interception and returned it to the Eagles’ 27yard line. It took Atlanta two plays to score, needing their fourth red zone trip to find the end zone. Tevin Coleman’s nine-yard touchdown run put Atlanta ahead, although they missed an extra point so it was only a 12-10 lead — still enough for the Eagles to remain in striking distance. Then came the late fourth-quarter heroics to give the Eagles their first win. kickoff.”
As of late Thursday afternoon, Tokay has four sophomores on the squad. Joining Bravo and Varney are wide recevier/free safety Joseph Filippini and offensive tackle/defensive tackle Dharuv Walia (6-foot and 251).
On Aug. 30, Chavez made its first trek to Grape Bowl to face Lodi in a non-league game. The visiting Titans were able to break a 28-28 tie in the fourth quarter to post a 36-28 win.
Tokay will be facing Chavez (that likes to run the ball. Leading the ground game for the Titans is fullback George Romero-Robinson (6’1 and 225), who 244 yards on 49 carries and two touchdowns. In the air, wide receiver Malik Dominque has 169 yards on only eight receptions and four touchdowns.
The Tigers will close out its non-league schedule at McNair one week from today.
Lodi
For the second time in three weeks, Lodi (1-1) hits the road again for a nonleague game. Today at 7:30 p.m., the Flames take on Stagg (2-1). Lodi opened its season at Ceres, winning 36-0, two weeks ago.
In last week’s loss to Chavez, the Flames stayed toe-to-toe with the Titans until the fourth quarter when Chavez scored the go-ahead
touchdown.
“Offensively, we were able to run the rock,” said Lodi coach George Duenas. “We will need to continue that this week and be able to chew up the clock.”
The Flames were guilty of four turnovers against the Titans. Protecting the ball will be key for Lodi against the Delta Kings’ defense.
“Offensively we worked on protecting the ball this week,” Duenas said. “Defensively, we worked on pass coverage and pass rushing.”
Leading the Flames’ offense is fullback Larry McDowell III, who has 125 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns. Junior quarterback Logan Stout has 110 yards on 19 carries and four touchdowns and fullback Myles Lozano 76 yards on 20 carries.
On defense, Lodi disrupted the Titans’ offensive flow. Although Romero-Robinson was able to bulldoze his way through the line and into the open field a few times.
“Defensively, I thought they played pretty well,” Duenas said. “The kids are flying abound out there causing turnovers.”
Lodi outside linebacker Andreas Pappas leads the team in tackles with 12, followed by McDowell III, at middle linebacker, at 11.
The Delta Kings showed their love toward moving the ball in the air and ground against Tokay last week.
“Stagg brings a very potent offense and a defense that moves well,” said Duenas of Stagg. “I believe we must do a great job in our pass defense (tonight).”
Liberty Ranch
Playing its fourth nonleague game is as many weeks, Liberty Ranch (1-2) returns home to Hawks Stadium to face Bear River (3-0), which has not allowed any points this season.
“They are a well-coached team,” said Liberty Ranch coach Anthony Linebaugh. “Their kids believe in the system, both offensively and defensively. They are a confident group.”
Bear River, out of Lake of the Pines in Nevada County, will be facing a Hawks’ offense that is averaging 24.6 points per game. Running backs Gabriel Nino (35 carries for 394 yards, three touchdowns), Jonathan Thomas (22-131, two touchdowns) and Daryn Harper (15-101) are guiding the Hawks’ ground game. Quarterback Matthew Hopper has 116 yards on nine carries and three touchdowns. Helping Liberty Ranch on the line are guards Marshall Martens and Jackson Patwell, both juniors.
In its 28-6 loss at Amador on Aug. 30, Liberty Ranch’s defense gave up all of the Buffaloes’ points in the first half. The Hawks are looking to carry the momentum of shutting down Amador’s offense in the second half into tonight’s game.
“The defense did a better job of following assignments and reacting as opposed to waiting for something to happen,” Linebaugh said. Warner.
“It puts stress on the defense as a whole if you’re not prepared for it,” Warner said. “So that’s why we’re kind of making some adjustments to make sure we’re not getting hit in certain areas where we’re not protected.”
To try to pick up DeFilippo’s tendencies, the 49ers’ defense has watched more tape this week of the Eagles from last season than of the Vikings. In particular, they watched last season’s games against the Chargers, Seahawks and Falcons, who all run similar defenses to San Francisco’s.
Warner will be playing a new position. He worked as an outside linebacker in college, where he was tasked with covering pass catchers in the slot and working in space.
Warner (6-3, 236) brings athleticism to the position after prioritizing coverage skills at BYU. But there were questions about his physicality at the next level, which he feels he answered during his first training camp and preseason.
“I feel like it’s kind of my natural position, you could say,” Warner said. “Obviously, I didn’t do a lot of that in college. But just being out there, I feel like if I wasn’t as natural, I probably wouldn’t be doing as well as I am — and being in the position I’m in.”
Warner’s running mate on the inside remains to be seen. Smith was listed as “limited” in practice Wednesday. Warner said veteran Brock Coyle has been given the bulk of work recently at “Will” linebacker on the weakside in case Smith can’t play.
Foster was suspended in July for two games stemming from his offseason marijuana arrest and possession of an assault rifle. He will be eligible to return to practice Sept. 17 before the 49ers travel to play the Chiefs.
49ers injury updates — Linebacker Malcolm Smith (hamstring) and Jimmie Ward (quadriceps) were limited participants in practice. Brock Coyle received early work with the starters in Smith’s place.
Reserve tackle Garry Gilliam remains in the final stages of the concussion protocol and has been cleared to resume contact, but his status remains uncertain for Sunday. Recently acquired Shon Coleman would likely be the team’s “swing” tackle should Gilliam remain out after suffering the injury in the preseason opener.