Shamaree Brown: 14 tackles
HIGH POINT -- Perhaps the most disconcerting piece of news in Smith's 35-6 season-opening loss at Northeast Guilford last week was the fact that the Golden Eagles managed only 11 yards on the ground.
Coach Tony McKee decided to get tough and to get quiet. No more yelling. No more screaming. Just play in the backfield whoever would run hard.
McKee got his answer on Sith's first play from scrimmage Friday night as sophomore fullback J.J. Thompson rambled 77 yards for a touchdown to open the Golden Eagles' 25-7 win over High Point Andrews at Simeon Stadium.
Thompson, who finished with 113 yards on the night, proved to be just one of two Eagle backs who was willing and able to run through the Red Raider defense. Senior tailback Mike Able turned in his best game since last season's 28-14 win at Grimsley with 14 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Able, Smith's top track sprinter, put the game out of reach with two touchdowns, including a 49-yarder.
In all BLS (1-1) had 40 carries for 225 yards.
"I'm going with whoever is hot," McKee said afterwards. "J.J. and Mike were hot tonight."
Meanwhile, the opportunistic Smith defense forced three Red Raider turnovers.
"It was a little easier tonight because Andrews runs a straight-ahead I," said Smith linebacker Shamaree Brown, who led Smith with 14 tackles. "Northeast runs the wishbone and the misdirection caused us problems.
"We came out instense and we completed our assignments. That was the major difference from last week. Coach told us that if we did our assignments, the rest would take care of itself."
Brown had plenty of help on defense. Fellow linebackers P.J. Southerland and Wes Tyler also turned in big nights. Southerland had 12 tackles and an interception, while Tyler finished with eight tackles. Defensive backs Brian Burgess and Jeremy Strayhorn each had five tackles.
Another major difference on this night was the fact that McKee used more players both ways. Brown, Southerland and wideout Brandon Free played on almost every down. After watching green linemen struggle against Northeast the first week, the Smith coach decided he had to go with veterans and forego two-platoon football in many instances.
Andrews coach Dave Mizell spent a frustrating night much like Smith experienced the previous week.
"We graduated 22 kids from last year's team and you're not going to come out in midseason form the first night in that situation," Mizell said.
The Golden Eagles limited the Red Raiders (0-1) to 134 yards and eight first downs.
Much like Smith in its season-opener, Andrews did make one push to get back into the game. The Red Raiders, down 13-0 after Eagle quarterback Duane Taylor found Thompson for a 39-yard touchdown, rallied within 13-7 after an Adams Mills 20-yard punt return led to a four-yard Brian Gainey score.
On their next possession, the Red Raiders drove to the BLS 33-yard line before Montis Lash and Antonio Williamson came up with a combined big hit to knock the ball free. Burgess recovered to end that Andrews drive. The Red Raiders spent almost the rest of the night in their own territory. The closest they got to the Golden Eagle goal was the BLS 48-yard line.
Up next is Southeast Guilford, which surprised Dudley for the second straight year.
"We can't take Southeast for granted," Brown noted. "We saw what happened when we do that last week."
"I think we learned a lot from that first game," McKee added. "We showed improvement from week one to week two. That's what we take from tonight.
"Perhaps more importantly we played Smith football tonight. We made big plays all over the place. That was my football team out there tonight."
Next Friday's 7:30 p.m. game is BLS's home opener. The staff tailgate party will begin at 5 p.m. in the parking lot of Manzi Stadium.
Southeast beat Dudley 8-0 in its season opener Friday night, getting both of its scores on defense -- a safety and an interception return for a touchdown.
Extra Points -- Lashun Peoples led Carver to a 34-14 win over North Forsyth. Peoples had 124 yards and two touchdowns as the defending NCHSAA champion Yellowjackets won their 18th straight game. CHS quarterback Jason Brayboy, son of BLS athletic director Oscar Brayboy, threw a 50-yard pass to Keegan Haggins ... Piedmont Triad 3-A offensive player of the year Brandon Isaiah gained 114 yards and scored three touchdowns as Parkland defeated East Forsyth 27-6.
© 1999 bls@oocities.com
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