WS Chronicle

Grant Carter of Reagan runs for a first down in the final minutes of the game to seal the victory for his team. (Photo by Craig T. Greenlee)

Reagan finally got the breakthrough it had been seeking in jayvee football. After two previously unsuccessful attempts, the visiting Raiders finally came out on top with a 21-18 victory over North Forsyth last Thursday.

Grant Carter, a running back who’s been converted to quarterback, delivered the bulk of the offense for Reagan. Carter scored twice to lead the way. The Raiders added what proved to be the final margin of victory when the defense scored on a Vikings fumble near the end of the first half.

“This was a great team win,” said Coach Willie Quick of Reagan, whose team is 1-2. “Our people played like they wanted it more. “We’ll be in good shape as long as they continue to buy into the system and remain coachable.”

Initially, this game had all the makings of a shoot-out. The contest was never tied, but there were five lead changes – all in the first half.

The Raiders put together a 60-yard scoring drive midway through the first quarter. Carter scored on a quarterback sneak and Alex Stasinski kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead. 

The tenor of the game changed later in the quarter when North Forsyth recovered a fumble on the Raiders’ one-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Ronald Jackson scored on short plunge and then ran for the PAT to put his team in front, 8-7.

The Vikings lead lasted all of 14 seconds. On the ensuing kickoff, Carter started up the middle, then found a seam on the left side and ran 72 yards for a touchdown. Reagan regained the lead at 13-8, but not for long.

North Forsyth responded with a quick-strike drive at about the eight-minute mark of the second quarter. Jackson completed passes to Mizell Hall (27 yards) and Chandler Miller (20 yards) to put the ball on Reagan’s 4-yard line. On the next play, Khalil Baker scored on a run off right tackle, Jackson ran for the PAT and the Vikings went back on top, 16-13.
Reagan regained the lead for good late in the closing minutes of the first half. Oddly, it all started with a turnover. The Raiders had a drive going, but North Forsyth intercepted a pass near its goal line to end that threat.

On the first play from scrimmage after the interception, North Forsyth fumbled and Owen Agee of Reagan scooped up the loose ball and scored. At the half, it was 21-16 in the Raiders favor.

The script in the second half was dramatically different from the first half. The Raiders and Vikings delivered stellar efforts on defense. Offensive miscues, however, prevented both teams from putting more points on the board.

North Forsyth made it a 3-point game in the third quarter when Benjamin Harris sacked Ryan Ayers in the end zone for a safety.

The Vikings potential game-winning drive fell short when the Raiders defense produced a sack on third down and forced a punt with 3:35 remaining in the contest. With a three-point lead and Carter picking up a crucial first down on third-and-short yardage, Reagan maintained possession and ran out the clock.

“We want the ball in Grant’s hands as much as possible,” said Quick.

Pierce Alston keyed Reagan’s defense as a disruptive factor at nose tackle. The top defensive performers for the Vikings were Aaron Worthy and Antonio Mims.

Even though North Forsyth is 0-2, the current record isn’t a true reflection of how well it has played so far this season. The Vikings lost both games by a total of four points. 
In spite of the slow start, Coach David Hill isn’t complaining. A year ago, North Forsyth’s JV dropped its first two games, but regrouped in time to post the best record in the Mid-Piedmont 3-A Conference.

“We’re still showing our youth with all the mistakes we’re making,” said Hill. “But they’re playing hard and they’re learning. The effort is there and I’m very satisfied with that. They’re giving it all they have from the first quarter through the fourth quarter. As a coach, that’s all you can ask.”