Undefeated Titans face ultimate test in season finale
BY CRAIG T. GREENLEE
FOR THE CHRONICLE
Looking back on the 2015 JV football season, it’s fitting that the two best teams will meet in the final week to determine who’s the best. West Forsyth hits the road to play North Davidson tonight, in a game that has some interesting story lines. Kick-off is set for 6 o’clock.
The Titans (9-0) have yet to lose this season. A victory would guarantee a perfect season and a first-place finish in the Central Piedmont 4-A Conference.
North Davidson (8-1) will give West Forsyth all it can handle. After suffering a gut-wrenching loss in the season opener (13-12 to High Point Central), the Black Knights have won eight straight. Both teams are unbeaten in the CPC, so tonight’s winner will emerge as the league’s mythical JV conference champ.
Aside from that, North Davidson has added incentive to spoil West Forsyth’s quest to go 10-0.
On paper, these teams appear to be evenly matched. North Davidson could rate as a slight favorite, but only because of home-field advantage. Other than that, the game figures to be a toss-up.
Given that both teams’ offenses score 30-plus points a game, the final outcome could be determined by which offense gets the ball last. Both defenses, while solid, figure to face their sternest challenges because there’s so much offensive diversity. The Titans and Black Knights have strong ground games with gifted runners who are a threat to score anytime they touch the football. The passing attacks are equally explosive.
West Forsyth has a versatile crew of game-breakers. Kenyar McPhatter isn’t a bruiser type of running back, but his elusiveness and surprising strength make him a tough match-up as a runner and as a receiver coming out of the backfield. At the receiver slots, Jamon Brown and Kallai Buyna are big-play threats.
Drew Latham has evolved as a key cog at quarterback. Latham’s prime assets is his decision making. He rarely throws interceptions and he’s effective enough as a runner to keep defenses from keying solely on McPhatter.
Two keys for West Forsyth’s defense are Clifton Mack and Alexander Garrett. Both must play well in order for the Titans to control the line of scrimmage. Safety KeAndre Buyna leads the way for an opportunistic secondary. West Forsyth has held opposing offenses to 15 points per game this season.
North Davidson operates from multiple offensive sets with quarterback Josh Sicignaeo as the focal point. The backfield tandem of Zi Russell and Hunter Morgan is the best the Titans have faced all season. Matthew Rogers and Jacob Laflesh are proven commodities at wide receiver.
The defense – with nine freshmen and two sophomores as starters – is young, but skilled, smart and game-tested. The strength is the front line, anchored by Blake Stephens and Devon Welch. Linebackers Maddox Johnson and Zander Williams are the other prime contributors on a defense that has allowed 15.1 points per game.
West Forsyth and North Davidson have big-play capability on both sides of the ball, so the final outcome could be determined by turnovers and/or special teams play. All the elements are in place for this game to be the most memorable of the JV season.
