By Craig Brown
Dillon Christian’s #21 Kelvin Stackhouse runs behind the blocking of #77 Hunter Tyner. (Photos by Craig Brown.)
Warrior assistant coach Steve Johnson stated that the win would likely give the Warriors a first playoff game at home due to the number of teams in the region. Coach Johnson stated that the Trojans will play Williamsburg Academy this Friday and the winner of that game will determine the playoff schedule.
The Warriors have one regular non-region game left with North Myrtle Beach Christian School this Friday night. The Warriors are favored in this matchup and Head Coach Christian Wolfe is expected to play all members of his regular varsity and work in some talented middle school players into the second half if the game plan goes as expected.
Coach Johnson added that Friday’s game against the Trojans was the best effort the Warriors had given all season and he credits the defense, coached by Phillip Price, as saving the game against a very strong Trojan offensive team.
The Trojans took the opening kickoff and ate the clock up on short yardage plays. The Warriors could not find a way to stop the Trojans on their opening drive but had decided to hold off on starting big Ben Boykin due to a shoulder injury he had received in last Friday’s game. The Trojans finished the drive with Will Naso crossing the goal line from four yards out. Naso ran in the two-point conversion to give the Trojans an 8-0 lead with 4:31 left in the first quarter.
It only took the Warrior offense one and a half minutes to reach the goal line on their first possession as Jim Carr finished the Warrior drive by hitting Will Brown with a 19-yard touchdown pass. Brown kicked the extra point to put the Warriors within one at 8-7 with 2:54 left in the first quarter.
With 45 seconds left in the second quarter, Carr added another touchdown pass by hitting Ellison Rourke from 22 yards out. Brown’s kick put the Warriors up 14-8 with the first half closing with this score.
Kelvin Stackhouse added the Warriors final touchdown on a four-yard run with 4:46 left in the third quarter. Brown’s kick split the goal post to give the Warriors a 21-8 lead. After the Trojan’s opening drive, Ben Boykin was added to the defense and this turned out to be the ticket to success. The Trojans were stopped three times deep in Warrior territory in the second half.
The Trojans did not possess a great pass offense but had a big offensive line and some break away running backs that could drag a defensive lineman for extra yardage. The Warrior defense did have to stiffen up to stop these backs and preserve the 21-8 win.
On offense for the Warriors, Kelvin Stackhouse carried 26 times for 175 yards and a touchdown; Jim Carr was 5-of-8 passing for 95 yards and two touchdowns and had five yards rushing; Will Brown caught three passes for 58 yards and a touchdown with had six yards rushing and kicked three extra points; Anthony “Red” Williams carried three times for 24 yards; Ellison Rourke caught a 22 yard touchdown pass and had three yards rushing; and Luke Price caught a pass for 15 yards.
On defense, Luke Price had 12 tackles with four assists; Mathew Price had nine tackles, 10 assists; Thomas Evans had nine tackles, four assists; Anthony “Red” Williams had six tackles with two assists and an interception; Jake Boykin had five tackles, seven assists; Michael Minges had five tackles with an assist; Ben Boykin had four tackles, two assists; Mark Minges had three tackles with an assist; Hunter Tyner had two tackles, four assists; Will Brown had two tackles, two assists with a fumble recovery; David Williams added a tackle with six assists; Ellison Rourke added a tackle with three assists; and Kelvin Stackhouse and Dallas Feeko added a tackle each.
Game time for Friday’s game against North Myrtle Beach Christian School is set for 7:30 p.m. at Warrior Stadium.
Photos by Craig Brown. Click the images below to view at full size!
