WS Chronicle

The Demons of Reynolds JV football team gave it all they had against West Forsyth last Thursday. In the end, the Titans’ running game and defensive intensity overwhelmed the Demons in route to a 46-8 victory.

From the start of the game, it was the Jevanté Long show. The Titans running back scored three touchdowns and ran for well over 100 yards in the game. His ability to attract so much attention in the running game opened up passing lanes for quarterback Jacob Coale, who threw two touchdown passes of his own.

“Being the running back coach, I’m always pleased when my guys lock in and show toughness running between the tackles,” said running back coach Lawrence Ferguson. “I’ve been telling people for a while now he (Long) will be the next great one in line at West.

“He’s a great kid and also a great young man. He comes to practice every day with a smile and ready to work. It doesn’t hurt either that he’s a talented back.”

Long got West on the board with a touchdown run less than two minutes into the game. Following a three-and-out, Coale hit Andrew Betson for a 36-yard touchdown pass, giving the Titans an early 16-0 lead.  

Duke Ferree, who made plays with his legs all game long, quickly drove the Demons down the field. On fourth down, he threw a touchdown pass to close the gap to 8. That score was the last time Reynolds would put any points on the board.

The Titans took full control of the game in the second quarter. Another touchdown pass from Coale to Micah Hairston, coupled with another touchdown run from Long, essentially put the game away. With their defense swarming all over the ball, along with a timely interception from Matthew Del Hierro, the Titans walked into intermission with a 32-0 lead.

“I felt like we really got in a groove on offense, mixing the run and the pass,” said Ferguson. The defense also made adjustments and played a heck of a game.”

Things continued to go south for Reynolds as they received the opening kickoff and promptly fumbled. The Titans quickly capitalized on the miscue when Long broke a run inside the Demon red zone. A couple of plays later, Long punched it in for a two-yard score.  

The Demons were able to move the ball more effectively late in the third and into the fourth quarter, but never crossed the goal line. West capped their scoring of the night when Landon Hairston returned a punt for a touchdown. Even though the Titans dominated the scoreboard, the Demons fought hard all night long.

“We have a bunch of young guys and they played hard and gave a really good effort, it’s just about putting everything together,” said Reynolds head coach Craven Knotts. “You know, just the little things and making a couple of plays here and there and I think we will be fine. We have to forget about the last play and focus on the next one.”

Knotts raved about the play of Ferree and how the quarterback has developed over the season.

“Duke Ferree has come an extremely long way. I’ve been working with him for the past two years and he is really committed to the process and the new system we have put in place and it is paying off,” he said.  “He’s getting better week after week, and I am just loving what he is doing right now.”

The Titan defense was stellar all night. Ferguson said, “They were the key to the game with the adjustments made to Reynolds’ passing game.”

Ferguson expects the team to continue playing well the last two weeks of the season.

“My expectations are that we continue playing West Forsyth football – smart, physical and fast – and end the season on a winning note the next two Thursdays,” he said.