North Clayton ready for the 'moment' as they pick up bounce back win over Chattahoochee County
After getting off to a 2-0 start for the season, the North Clayton Eagles were grounded last week when they lost a close one to McNair, however on Friday, looked to rebound when they hosted the Chattahoochee County Panthers, who looked to grab their first win of the season. With the game underway, about midway through the opening period of play, the Eagles defense soared into action as Amere White would pick off the Kraftin Brooks pass and return it for a touchdown, giving North Clayton the first score of the game, as they took a 6-0 lead.
Despite failing on the two point conversion, the Eagles would add to their lead in the second quarter thanks to a Qwantavius Wiggins 70 yard touchdown run, and this time completing the two point conversion and extending their to 14-0, which they would hold heading into the locker room at the half. In the third quarter, the Panthers would finally respond as they put together a time consuming drive that would result in a Brooks rushing touchdown, and with the extra point tacked on, Chattahoochee County would trail 14-7.
However, the Eagles would waste no time responding as quarterback, Justin Murphy would be flushed from the pocket and as it appeared that the Panthers would take him down after picking up the first down, Murphy somehow emerged from the pack and would scamper to the end zone for the touchdown and North Clayton would go up 20-7. Later in the fourth quarter, the Panthers’ defense would come up big as a Eagles’ fumbled would be scooped up and returned for a touchdown by Javen Tullis and Chattahoochee County would trail 20-13.
Yet, not to be outdone, the Eagles would respond immediately as Wiggins would rush for his second touchdown of the night, this time an 80 yard run that would push North Clayton back up by 13 as they led 26-13. The Eagles would add another touchdown on the ground later in the period to seal the win, as they would pick up the 34-13 victory, improving to 3-1 on the season. “They came out, fought hard,” North Clayton head coach, Cap Burnett said following the Eagles win, praising his players for the way they responded to last week’s loss. “For them to come back, reset this week and come out with this type of victory, I’m proud of them, Burnett said of his young group of players.
With the win, the Eagles improved to 3-1 to start the season, something they have not achieve since the 2011 season and Burnett says his summer talks with his players were all about “preparing them for this moment right here,” as he wanted them to understand the importance of being mentally prepared as well. “They’ll probably be like ‘man Coach Cap don’t give us no leeway’ but it’s not because I’m super strict….it’s just because of moment like this,” Burnett added. The Eagles now head into region play and will take on Fayette County next Friday.
Comments