Savannah Christian’s Zo Smalls knew his team had to get off to a fast start against Vidalia Friday night during the Red Raiders’ homecoming at Pooler Stadium.
His coach, Baker Woodward, used an effective aged sports cliché to convince Smalls and his teammates.
“He (Woodward) told us that we had to punch them in the mouth first,” said Smalls. “We had been preparing week for this game, and we knew we had to come out strong.”
To his credit, Smalls did just that. The senior running back rushed for a game-high 112 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead the undefeated Red Raiders (7-0,2-0) to a dominant 48-6 rout of Vidalia in a region game that wasn’t as close as the wide deficit.
Savannah Christian, which has averaged 39 points per game and has allowed an average of just under eight points per game, took control of the game in the first half when they scored on their first three possessions.
Quarterback Blaise Thomas snuck over from the one on their opening 61-yard, nine-play march highlighted by Kenry Walls’s runs of 14 and 32 yards.
Vidalia (2-4) appeared ready to counter, moving the ball down to the Savanna Christian 18, but they failed to complete a fourth-down attempt.
Savannah Christian took advantage, and the game’s momentum would shift in the Red Raiders’ favor the rest of the evening.
Smalls capped a seven-play, 82-yard march all on the ground between him and Walls when he scored on a 21-yard scamper with 9:45 left before halftime.
The Red Raiders’ Athen Hudpseth blocked a punt on the ensuing possession that gave his team excellent field position at the Vidalia 24. Six plays later, Smalls scored his second touchdown on a four-yard dash, giving Savannah Christian a commanding 21-0 halftime advantage.
On their opening drive of the second half, Savannah Christian sealed a then probable win when they matriculated down the field 58 yards on six plays aided by a Vidalia personal foul and took a 28-0 lead behind Smalls’ four-yard run, this third score on the evening.
That drive was set up when the Red Raiders shocked Vidalia when they recovered an onside kick.
Vidalia finally scored on the Savannah Christian’s backup defense in the fourth quarter with 4:35 left in the game. Still, the Indians’ running game sputtered throughout the game due to an aggressive Red Raiders’ defense that dominated the line of scrimmage.
Savannah Christian also pressured Vidalia quarterback Jackson Berry, who didn’t complete a pass until late in the final quarter. Vidalia had 191 yards of total offense, most of that after Savannah Christian initiated a running game and substitutions with a 41-0 advantage.
Woodward stated that he had coached most of his current players since middle school and wanted to send an early message to his opponent.
“They really listen,” stressed Woodward. “We have to attack at the beginning of both halves. In high school football, whoever wins the beginning of the halves is most likely to win the game. Our goals came out and went out and scored both halves and never looked back. We weren’t trying to make it an onsides kick, but we saw an area open on their side. This was our best game we played on special teams play this year, and (kicker) Christian Johns kicked well.”
Woodward also credited the play of his defensive front, noting the play of Elijah Griffin, LaDamion Guyton, and Clemson recruit Logan Brooking. Griffin will announce his college commitment this week, and Guyton, a sophomore, is viewed as a Power Five prospect.
In addition, Woodward cited the play of junior nose tackle Isaiah Redmond, who had a strong game.
“In all my years of high school coaching, this is the best high school defensive line that I have seen,” beamed Woodward. “This is the best in reference to going against one, and I’m glad there on our sideline.”
Smalls, who passed the 1,000-yard mark in rushing for the season, believes his team has reached another level.
“We’re better than people think we are,” added Smalls. “BC (Benedictine Academy) may have overshadowed us, but I think we’re better than them. We just go out and put in the work all day and every day.”
| Savannah Christian 48, Vidalia 6 | |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| Vidalia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Savannah Christian | 7 | 14 | 27 | 0 | 48 |
| First Quarter | |||||
| SC-Blaise Thomas 1 run (Christian Johns kick) | |||||
| Second Quarter | |||||
| SC – Zo Smalls 21 run (Johns kick) | |||||
| SC- Smalls 5 run (Johns kick) | |||||
| Third Quarter | |||||
| SC- Smalls 4 run (Johns kick) | |||||
|
SC – Logan Brooking 30 pass from Thomas (kick failed) |
|||||
|
SC – Cain Tomlin 9 pass from Thomas (Johns kick) |
|||||
| SC - Carson Taylor 55 punt return (Johns kick) | |||||
| Fourth Quarter | |||||
| V – Jamarre Wiggs 4 run (pass failed) | |||||
|
Records— SCPS 6-0, 2-0 Region A DI-3; Vidalia 3-3, 0-1 Region A DI-3 |
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FINAL SCORES
WEEK #9
WEEK #9 SCHEDULE
Oct. 08 (Tuesday)
Glynn Academy 31, South Effingham 0
Oct. 09 (Wednesday)
Effingham 35, Evans 7
Oct. 11 (Friday)
Camden County 28, Richmond Hill 10
Ware County38, Benedictine 14 *
Long County 25, Windsor Forest 0*
Beach 24, Johnson 20 *
Calvary Day 61, Islands 0 *
Jenkins 48, SE Bulloch 14*
Savannah Christian 48, Vidalia 6 *
Swainsboro 28, Savannah Country Day 21 *
McIntosh Academy County 36, Bryan County 14*
Claxton 42, Savannah High 8*
Pinewood Christian 64, St. Andrew's 36
Bethesda 35, Dillon Christian 6*
OCT. 12 (Saturday)
Liberty County 52, Groves 12 * .
Photo Credit: Courtesy Pro Shot Media
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