St. Andrew’s didn’t walk away from a furious failed comeback attempt against Pinewood Christian Friday night.
Instead, the Lions gained more insight into their current state after their home 35-27 defeat to the visiting Patriots in a game that was a District 2-AAA region-opening game for both clubs.
The Lions (5-3) roared back from a 28-0 deficit in the early moments of the third quarter scored 21 unanswered points, generating two scores from consecutive recoveries of onsides kicks. It truly was a game of two halves, as the Lions managed just 13 offensive plays in the opening half and found themselves in a seemingly deep 21-0 hole at halftime.
Head coach Kevin Prisant understood the meaning behind his club’s deficit in true roller-coaster range of emotions.
“We tend to play emotionally instead of with emotion,” he stated. “We ride high and lows instead of passionately the whole time. Instead of playing even keel with intensity, we rise up when something good happens and when something bad happens, we deflate.
“But we got right back into it with the onsides kicks. We couldn’t get into a rhythm in the first half. Pinewood had an awesome plan for what we were doing. Still, our kids fight to the end.”
St. Andrew’s finally found its rhythm when Richaard Williams received a fumbled punt on the Pinewood 49. It would result in two scores in a span of 45 seconds.
Three plays later, Lions’s quarterback Zayden Edwards hit a streaking Amari Cook over the middle, and Cook darted down the field to complete a 53-yard scoring play and put his team on the board at 28-7 with 2:13 left in the third quarter.
T
he Lions then recovered their first of two onsides kicks, and Willliams took an insides handoff, escaped numerous tackles, and rambled int the end zone from 41 yards out to narrow the gap to 28-14 with 2:09 in the third.
However, the Lions’ flurry wasn’t finished. Joe Frazar recovered their second onsides kick, and they would quickly strike again.
Williams made the most of an open field opportunity, as he rambled 28 yards for their third score, suddenly it was a tight 28-21 game with 9:57 remaining.
Pinewood (4-4), though, quickly regained control when quarterback Banks Booth and wide receiver Walker Todd connected on their fourth touchdown of the night. Todd got behind the St. Andrews secondary and sprinted down to sidelines to cap a five-play, 80-yard drive a 50-yard touchdown with 9:53 left in the game. Booth had five touchdown pass on the night and 238 yards passing.
After St. Andrew’s sputtered on their ensuing drive, Pinewood looked to close out the game, but the Lions’ Rakari Harrison recovered a fumble on the St. Andrew’s 40.
From there, Edwards ended a nine-play, 60-yard drive with a nine-year dash around the end that made it 35-21 with two minutes in the game.
However, the Lions’ onsides kick went out of bounds, and Pinewood ran out the clock.
In the opening half, St. Andrews had a chance to tie the game at 7-7 and possibly gain momentum, notably after Cook galloped 63 yards and moved the ball down to the Pinewood seven-yard line. But a chop block penalty pushed them back to the 16, and a 33-ayrd field goal attempt was wide right.
Edwards, who threw for 101 yards and ran for 47, figured his team would soon respond. The Liosn were coming off a bye week, and also involved in numerous school activities during the week.
“We just needed to get back into rhythm,” he stressed. “It was tough in the first half where we only had 13 touches, and they did a good job on us. We had a lot of emotions during the week, and we weren’t on the same schedule. We knew we were capable of bouncing back.”
Edwards is confident can shake the loss as they will travel to meet undefeated Bulloch Academy (8-0) next Friday in another region matchup. Channeling their emotions again will be a key.
“We get back at it and watch some film,” added Edwards. “We just have to find that medium where we’re not too high or low. We just have to move onto the next play.
Pinewood Christian 7 14 7 7 -- 35
St. Andrew’s 0 0 14 13 -- 27
First Quarter
PC- Walker Todd 17 pass from Banks Booth (Todd kick)
Second Quarter
PC – Todd 17 pass from Booth (Todd kick)
PC – Kaedan Arnold 15 pass from Booth (Todd kick)
Third Quarter
PC – Todd 48 pass from Booth (Todd kick)
SA – Amari Cook 47 pass from Zayden Edwards (Charles Strain kick)
SA – Ricchard Williams 41 run (Strain kick)
Fourth Quarter
SA – Williams 28 run (Strain kick)
PC- Todd 50 pass from Booth (Todd kick)
SA – Edwards 9 run (kick failed)
WEEK #10 FINAL SCORES
Oct. 19, Thursday
GHSA Class 3A-Region 3
Johnson 52, Groves 6
GHSA Class 2A
|
Pierce County 44, Windsor Forest 0
GIAA 1A Memorial Day 18, Thomas Jefferson 0 |
Oct. 20, Friday
GHSA Class 6A
Brunswick 38, South Effingham 14
Bradwell 28, Statesboro 25
GHSA Class 5A
Coffee 34, Jenkins 0
GHSA Class 4A
Benedictine 38, Wayne County 21
New Hampstead 48, Islands 7
GHSA Class 3A
Savannah Christian 55, Beach 6
Calvary Day 49, Savannah Country Day 0
Long County 36, Liberty County 22
GHSA Class 1A
Screven County 29, Savannah High 6
GIAA AAAA/AAA District 2
Pinewood Christian 35, St. Andrew's 28
PHOTO CREDIT: banksfanaphotography
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