WS Chronicle

BY CRAIG T. GREENLEE

FOR THE CHRONICLE

Only time will tell if this proves to be a special kind of JV football season for West Forsyth. Entering today’s home game against High Point Central (Sept. 17, 6 p.m. kickoff), the Titans are 3-0 and showing much promise.

In the coming weeks, this team figures to be pushed to its limit when it begins Central Piedmont 4-A Conference play. CPC rivals Reagan, Reynolds, Mount Tabor, North Davidson and Davie, will all get their opportunities to derail West Forsyth.

Up to now, West Forsyth has served notice with early-season victories over East Forsyth and most recently, Statesville.

In beating East Forsyth 41-33 two weeks ago, the Titans hammered the Eagles with their bullish ground attack. Mack Duke was close to unstoppable with 250 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The following week, West Forsyth’s resolve was thoroughly tested in a 28-20 comeback win over previously undefeated Statesville.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Titans trailed the Greyhounds 20-6. But they rallied to pull it out with a 22-point explosion over the final 10 minutes of play. The clincher came with 15 seconds remaining in the contest.

On fourth-and-goal, Drew Latham rolled left on a bootleg and fired a five-yard touchdown pass to Jamon Brown. On the PAT kick attempt, Latham bobbled the snap from center, but picked up the ball and raced around the right side to score on the 2-point conversion.

“Even when we were down, there was no sulking, no finger pointing,” said Coach Jared Eure of West Forsyth. “They continued to play hard and they kept encouraging one another. This team showed a lot of resilience.”

Special teams play was a key component in the comeback – most specifically the play of Chad Young, who plays on the Titans kick coverage squads. “He’s what I call a special teams specialist,” said Eure. “Chad isn’t a big guy (5-feet-5, 130 pounds), but he gives you everything he has and he’s fearless. He’s the kind of player who will not back down from anyone.”

Young gave his team a much-needed jolt after West Forsyth scored a touchdown to cut Statesville’s lead to 20-13. On the ensuing kickoff, Young raced down field and delivered a teeth-rattling tackle on the kick returner. Eure is convinced that Young’s take-down altered the emotional tenor of the game.

“Chad was at full speed,” Eure recalled. “It was a facemask-to-chest hit, which caused the runner’s helmet to fly off his head. The crowd reacted to it and so did the coaches on both sidelines. That play changed the game in our favor. It gave our players the confidence that they could come back and win and they did that.”

After the West Forsyth defense forced a Greyhounds punt, the Titans ground game took control with Kenyar McPhatter and Duke doing most of the damage. McPhatter scored on a short run to tie the game 20-20 midway through the fourth quarter.

“This team is very young, and it’s also very talented,” said Eure. “I look forward to us playing every Thursday. If we can come out and take care of West Forsyth and don’t make mistakes, we’re going to be really good.”