WS Chronicle

It has been somewhat tough sledding for the Quality Education Academy’s (QEA) football team in its inaugural season. The young Pharaohs show a lot of growth in their Homecoming game against Concord First Assembly Academy (CFAA), losing by 43-14.

One might look at the score and assume this was a lopsided victory from start to finish, but that was not the case Friday night.  The Eagles only led 14-6 at the half, but eventually wore down the Pharaohs in the second half.

“We are maturing as a team right before our eyes,” said Antonio Stevenson, QEA head coach.  “For our young guys to come out here and not quit is a win in itself.  My guys have really earned my respect for not quitting.”

“When I tell you that we have come a long way in five months, I mean from North Carolina to Texas, long way,” he continued.  “All I can say is wait for next season. We are going to be alright.”

Concord led 14-6 heading into the second quarter and was running the ball with relative ease.  Both teams were hit by the turnover bug, as the teams combined for three total turnovers in the quarter. 

The Pharaohs started of the second half on a sour note.  They turned the ball over once again, leading to another Eagles score.  Down two scores, QEA answers with a score of their own.  Not to be outdone, the Eagles score a touchdown on their next possession when quarterback Tre Boyd connected with Ray Rice, making the score 28-14 after the conversion.

Once the Eagles achieved a two-score lead, their running back Fred Peace started going to work.  Peace had a 65-yard touchdown called back because of a penalty, but routinely gashed the QEA defense for big gains all night long.

“I saw some good holes tonight and I just tried to make a play,” said Peace.  “I tried to lower my shoulder most times, but if I could have run past them I would.

“If I am trying to make them scared of me. I will try to run anyone over, but after that I try to get to the end zone,” he said about his running style.  “We need to win outright so we can get the Number One seed, and I think we have good momentum right now and I think we can do it.”

The Pharaoh’s were down by three scores in the fourth quarter.  Quarterback Nirome Lucas continued to scramble out of the pocket to find open receivers to put some points on the board.  Unfortunately for QEA, the Eagles defense was up to the task.  They gave up some yards to the Pharaohs but held them out of the end zone in the second half.

“We really didn’t know what to expect because we did not have any film on them,” said Brad Lamb, CFAA head coach.  “We came out here with the anticipation of having a good old fashioned football game and try to execute our X’s and O’s while playing hard.”

“Our last two games we have started to come together as a team and gel,” he continued.  “The first five weeks of the season, we were still trying to find our identity.”

Lamb says the Pharaohs were giving them trouble in the first half with the style of blitzing they were using.  He says they made some adjustments at halftime to remedy the problems they were having on both sides of the ball. 

“This game is huge for us because it gives us a two game winning streak,” Lamb said.  “We have two hard games coming up, so we needed this win to carry us into next week.”

Stevenson says he only has five seniors graduating at the end of the season, so they are in good shape going forward.  He feels this season is giving his players valuable experience for next year and is proud of the efforts his team has shown.

“Keep us in prayer and watch us roll, we are going to get it right and we are not going to give up,” said Stevenson.