WS Chronicle

The Glenn Bobcats are off to a good start in their 2017 campaign.  After defeating Walkertown 42-0 Week One, they followed up with a 27-6 victory over the Carver Yellowjackets last Thursday.

Throughout the entire first half of play, this was an evenly matched game.  With Carver having many of their skill position players going both ways, fatigue played a major role in the Bobcats domination in the second half, which propelled them to victory.

The first quarter of the game was very uneventful for both offenses, which is to be expected early in the season.  The second quarter looked to mirror the first until Antonio Grey of Glenn returned a punt to the 31 yard line of Carver late in the second. 

Taking full advantage of their golden field position, Glenn quarterback Aronson Cook hooked up with sophomore wide receiver Daniel Napper for a leaping catch in the end zone.  After taking possession deep in their territory, Glenn decided to run a couple of plays instead of kneeling on the ball to run out the clock, which resulted in a fumble.  The ball was picked up by Carver and run in for a touchdown to bring them within one point at 7-6 going into the half.

“Defense really carried us in the first half and if it wasn’t for that late fumble late in the first half they would have pitched a shutout, said Glenn head coach Stephen Herring.  “Our defense played a heck of a game no doubt.”

The feeling was mutual on Carver’s sideline about their defensive performance during the first half.  Carver head coach Dee Moye says they have more work to do but was happy with his team’s effort.

“It was a tale of two halves because we started off pretty steady and it seemed like it was an even game between both teams,” Moye said.  “We had some big plays on defense in the first half to where the momentum was given to us even though we were down by one point.”

Herring told his guys that the first half could not have gone any worse than it did offensively so the only place they could go was up.  He said the other team wasn’t beating them but instead they were beating themselves by not executing.  He told them to correct the little mistakes and everything will fall into place.

Leaning on the run game, Glenn came out of the half with a renewed vigor on offense.  The power and speed combination of Keyon Sanders and Isaac Sutton was key for the second half surge for Glenn as they both scored touchdowns.

“Together they are a nice little thunder and lightning punch,” said Herring.  “Keyon is a hard runner between the tackles and Isaac is our burner around the edges.  When we throw Raninra Dillworth in the mix, he will run you over and has speed to go with it, also.”

Moye says his team did not keep up the same intensity in the second half as they did in the first.  With the high number of young players on the team he felt they became a little complacent with the score being so tight at the intermission.

“We have some young kids on the team and we kind of let it slip through our fingers,” Moye said.  “You find that sometimes with young kids, which means we have more work to do.  This game is four quarters and you have to play full speed all game and carry out your assignments.”

Overall Moye saw improvements in his team from their game last week against West Forsyth.  He credits his defense for playing so well, forcing two interceptions and two fumbles.  He says he knows it will be a challenge to get all of the guys to buy in to what they are trying to teach.  Once that happens, he thinks both offensively and defensively they will begin to start clicking.

There were a few bright spots for the Yellowjackets during the game.  Cornerback Jaquez Sims intercepted two passes while running back/linebacker Xavier Gaddy played well on both sides of the ball.  Moye says those are two of the players he leans on because of their commitment to the team.

“Jaquez hasn’t had much experience at corner but was willing to step in when needed and played well,” Moye said.  “Gaddy is a specimen when you look at him.  He is works really hard and gave excellent effort. I take my hat off to those guys.”

For Herring, he will use this game as an example of what his team needs to improve upon going into their game against North Forsyth next week.  He says defensively they just need to maintain what they have been doing but for the offense he thinks adjustments have to be made by the players and the coaching staff to put the players in the best situation  possible.