The Calvary Day offense might have felt like it spent the entire first half in Whitefield Academy territory, and that’s not far off the mark.
The host Cavaliers took advantage of short fields to score on all five first-half possessions en route to a 52-7 rout of the WolfPack of Smyrna on Friday night in the GHSA Class 1A-3A Private quarterfinals.
Savannah, Ga. — Calvary Day’s Ca’Den Jones scores one of his four rushing touchdowns in Friday’s GHSA quarterfinal. Photo courtesy Prep Sports Report.
Junior running back Ca’Den Jones scored three of his career-high four rushing touchdowns in the first half, quarterback James Mobley IV ran for another, and Grady Shiver kicked a 34-yard field goal as CDS led 31-0 at halftime.
“We just executed the game plan,” said Jason Cameron, in his first season as Calvary Day’s head coach. “We fly around. We play physical football. We try to impose our will on people, and that’s what we do.”
Savannah, Ga. — Calvary Day defenders Jeffrey McCormick (15) and Jay Varner (55) close in on the Whitefield Academy quarterback during Friday’s GHSA quarterfinal. Photo courtesy Prep Sports Report.
Calvary Day (11-1) will play in its second state semifinal in three years on Dec. 5 at top seed Fellowship Christian (10-1), a 45-14 winner Friday night over visiting Savannah Christian in Roswell.
The Cavaliers, who had a first-round bye, dominated King’s Ridge Christian of Alpharetta 56-17 on Nov. 21 when they led 56-7 after two quarters and rested starters in a second half with a running clock.
It was a similar story on Friday night, though starter Mobley sat out just the fourth quarter this time, and Whitefield Academy (9-3) scored its only points with 1:39 remaining in regulation to spoil Calvary’s bid for a shutout.
“We don’t pay too much attention to that,” Cameron said of falling short of the shutout. “We were able to get some young guys in the game, in a quarterfinal game. That’s such a blessing for us.”
First, the “old” guys forged an insurmountable lead, and they were aided by starting first-half possessions at the WolfPack 41 and 46; the Cavs’ 18 as the lone exception; and then the WolfPack 39 and 18.
Conversely, Whitefield Academy started inside its 30 on six first-half possessions, as well as starting at its 35, 20, and 20 in the third quarter, as Shiver boomed kickoffs for touchbacks for much of the game.
It was only after the WolfPack’s lone score and recovery of a squibbed kickoff did they start a drive in CDS territory (the 33). But the clock ran out before they could produce points, much like their deepest drive of the first half, when they reached the CDS 7 when time expired.
Whitefield Academy played without star running back Mason Hollingsworth, who watched from the sideline on crutches after breaking his right leg in last week’s playoff game. The senior rushed for 31 touchdowns and 1,983 yards in 11 games, averaging 180.3 yards a contest and 9.2 yards a carry.
“They’re a dynamic group,” Cameron said. “They’re without their running back (Hollingsworth), who’s a great player. I’m praying for a quick recovery for him.”
Whitefield Academy didn’t have a way to slow Calvary’s offense, which didn’t punt until just under 10 minutes were left in the fourth quarter. And the defense got the ball right back on second-and-8 when the Cavaliers’ Shawn Williams returned an interception to the WolfPack 25 with 8:43 remaining.
That’s also how the game started, with Calvary’s Gabriel Ausfeld intercepting Whitefield Academy starting quarterback Landon Ryan’s deflected pass on third-and-5 on the opening drive.
Starting at the WolfPack 41, the Cavaliers mixed one pass play with seven run plays, the last Jones’ 3-yard rumble through the line with 7:45 left in the first quarter.
Savannah, Ga. — Calvary Day wide receiver Emerson Lewis (20) makes a sharp cut to elude a defender during Friday night’s GHSA quarterfinal against Whitefield Academy. Photo courtesy Prep Sports Report.
After Elisha Williams sacked Ryan to force a punt, Calvary started at the Whitefield 46. Jones scored from 1-yard out on the drive for 14-0 with 1:18 left in the opening period.
After another Whitefield three-and-out and a 47-yard rolling punt, CDS started at its 18 before driving 82 yards for Mobley’s 3-yard rushing TD and 21-0 with 7:16 remaining in the second quarter.
The WolfPack faced fourth-and-1 from their 39, and the Cavaliers were ready for a quarterback sneak with a lot of pushing for support. The play was stuffed for no gain and a turnover on downs.
“We pay attention to details and we’re a really good practice team,” Cameron said. “I was excited about when (the Wolfpack) went for their little sneak play. We practiced it all week; we executed. Our coaching staff does a great job. These guys are always prepared and you can never, ever doubt how hard they play football.”
Savannah, Ga. — Calvary Day cornerback Emerson Lewis (20) leaps into the throwing lane, pressuring the Whitefield Academy quarterback during Friday night’s GHSA quarterfinal. Photo courtesy Prep Sports Report.
Calvary then sprinkled in one pass play with seven runs, the last Jones’ 2-yard thumping run off-tackle for a 28-0 advantage.
“It feels like in short yardage, like goal line, they really depend on me,” said Jones, a 5-foot-11, 200-pounder who gave credit to the offensive line.
The Cavs weren’t done, as defensive lineman Jay Varner forced a fumble, which the team recovered at the WolfPack 18, leading to Shiver’s field goal with 2:24 left in the second quarter.
Savannah, Ga. — Calvary Day defender Jay Varner (55) closes in to bring down the Whitefield Academy quarterback during Friday night’s GHSA quarterfinal. Photo courtesy Prep Sports Report.
Calvary Day returned the opening kickoff of the second half to the 34, then drove with the help of a 15-yard penalty on Whitefield for sideline interference for a 38-0 advantage on Jones’ fourth TD, a 23-yard run around right end.
“He’s powerful,” Cameron said of Jones. “If you watch the way he’s coached in practice, he’s coached hard. He always responds. He’s a load to tackle. Listen, there were some holes there. Those five guys up front did a great job. We have unselfish guys. We like to sling it around and throw it. But tonight, it was pound the rock, and nobody cares. They just want to get the job done.”
Jones rushed 14 times for 119 yards and the four scores, while teammate Zay Middleton also had 14 carries and gained 79 yards.
Jones, who said he has gotten the attention of several Sun Belt Conference schools, believes the Cavs are clicking because of team chemistry.
“We work together,” Jones said. “We work hard, practice hard, play hard on the field Friday night.”
Mobley later lofted a 19-yard TD pass to the end zone to Marlon Knight Jr., and Shawn Williams took a pitch and dashed 12 yards for a score and a 52-0 lead before the end of the third quarter.
Savannah, Ga. — Calvary Day quarterback James Mobley IV (14) delivers a swing pass to Ty Pinckney (4) during Friday night’s GHSA quarterfinal win over Whitefield Academy. Photo courtesy Prep Sports Report.
Mobley finished with 13-of-16 passing for 143 yards and the TD pass, along with eight carries for 32 yards and a score.
Savannah, Ga. — Calvary Day’s defense swarms to the ball, running down Whitefield Academy throughout Friday night’s GHSA quarterfinal. Photo courtesy Prep Sports Report.
“You just want to peak at the right time,” Cameron said. “You want to continue to progress. We’re never complacent. We’re happy that we’re in the final four, but we’re not done yet. It’s a two-game season now. We’ve taken the entire season and really made it into a small picture. Two more to go.”
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Calvary Day 52, Whitefield Academy 7 |
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| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total | ||
| WA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | |
| CDS | 14 | 17 | 21 | 0 | 52 | |
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First Quarter |
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CDS—Ca’Den Jones 3 run (Grady Shiver kick) |
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CDS—Jones 1 run (Shiver kick) |
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Second Quarter |
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CDS—James Mobley IV 3 run (Shiver kick) |
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CDS—Jones 2 run (Shiver kick) |
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CDS—Shiver 34 FG |
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Third Quarter |
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CDS—Jones 23 run (Shiver kick) |
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CDS—Marlon Knight Jr. 19 pass from Mobley (Shiver kick) |
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CDS—Shawn Williams 12 run (Shiver kick) |
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Fourth Quarter |
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WA—Harrison Brantley 33 pass from Ian Kelly (Liam O’Halloran kick) |
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Records—Whitefield Academy 9-3, Calvary Day 11-1. |
GHSA FOOTBALL QUARTERFINALS — FINAL SCORES
Class 1A–3A Private
Calvary Day 52, Whitefield Academy 7
Fellowship Christian 45, Savannah Christian 14
Up next: Calvary Day advances to the state semifinals and will play Fellowship Christian on Friday, Dec. 5.
Class 3A
West Laurens 21, Jenkins 16
Class 4A
Benedictine 80, Carroll County 32
Up next: Benedictine advances to the state semifinals and will host Marist on Friday, Dec. 5.
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Photo Credit: Courtesy Prep Sports Report
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