Sandy Creek's "Physical' Defense Outlast Carver-Atlanta In 22-12 Win
They say defense wins games and on Friday, the Carver-Atlanta Panthers and Sandy Creek Patriots were locked in a defensive battle that would last for almost three full quarters before Sandy Creek would be able to pull away in the fourth quarter for a 22-12 win in a key region match up as both teams opened up region play.
The Patriots defense would be the first to strike as Carver’s opening drive would come to an end after a quarterback Bryce Bowen’s pass towards the end zone would be tipped in the air and Sandy Creek’s Cameron Watts would come up with the interception. On the ensuing Patriots possession, Sandy Creek would drive deep into Carver territory, but the Panthers’ defense would come up with a big stop on fourth down forcing a turnover on downs.
With the first quarter coming to an end with neither team finding their way into the end zone, things would seem to turn around in the second quarter. As the Patriots were once again driving, the Carver defense would force an Amari Latimere fumble and would recover the ball. On the ensuing possession, Carver’s Bowen would connect with Deandre Buchannon setting up a first down in the red zone and later on the drive, Bowen would score on a rushing touchdown, helping Carver take the 6-0 lead.
Not to be outdone, Sandy Creek would waste no time responding as Geimere Latimere would connect with Kaleb cost for a 25 yard touchdown and with a two point conversion, the Patriots would take an 8-6 lead. However the remainder of the second quarter and all of the third quarter would be all about the defenses as the offenses struggled to score. However, a break would come for the Patriots thanks to great field position after a Carver punt as they would take over deep in Panthers’ territory.
A Latimere touchdown pass to Cameron Watts would help the Patriots take a 15-6 lead and later in the quarter after the Panthers’ offense again failed to produce any points, Sandy Creek would get another touchdown from Latimere, this time on the ground and the Patriots would go up 22-6 and go on to pick up the 22-12 win. “Anytime anybody in our region plays each other, to walk away with a win is huge for whoever,” Sandy Creek head coach Brett Garvin said after his team picked up the tough win over Carver.
Garvin added that coming into Friday’s game, he and his staff constantly reminded their players that they would need to be physical to pick up a win. “Carver’s a physical team and we told ours all week if we want to have a chance at the end of this game, then we have to be able to try and figure out physical them and our defense came out and played very physical, aggressive football, which is what we told them to do. So just proud of them, we were able to pull it out in the end,” Garvin said.
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