PARKERS CHAPEL – Foreman used its powerful rushing attack to chew up the clock and the game Friday as the Gators downed Parkers Chapel 30-14. The Trojans slipped to 2-1 on the season and travel to Mayflower next week.
Foreman (2-0) piled up 390 yards on the ground with a four-pronged rushing attack. The Gators opened the game with an 80-yard drive on 11 rushing plays and followed that with a 16-play drive.
The Trojans had just one possession in the first quarter and took the ball twice in the second.
“That was our game plan today to come out and just try to run forward. I think we did a good job of it in the first half and we were able to shorten the game,” said Foreman coach Adrian Ivory. “They have such a high-powered offense. We wanted to keep their offense off the field. Us being able to eat some clock and run the ball was big for us tonight.”
Foreman converted third-and-3, third-and-4 and third-and-6 on its opening drive, which included just one false start penalty. Quarterback Isaac Carver broke loose for a 36-yard touchdown run on third-and-6 with 5:42 left in the first to cap the march. The run for two failed.
The Trojans answered with a 13-play drive, which stalled at the Foreman 13 when the Gators stopped Kori Morris for no gain on fourth-and-2.
Foreman then drove 87 yards on 16 punishing ground-and-pounds. The Gators converted a fourth-and-2 from its own 22 and also converted third-and-3 twice along with third-and-4 and third-and-7. On that third-and-7, Robbie Smith shook free for a 30-yard touchdown scamper. Carver passed to Keontae Oglesby for the conversion for a 14-0 lead with 4:04 left in the second quarter.
Parkers Chapel retaliated with a 60-yard drive. Caleb Jacobs completed a 21-yard pass to Trace Shoup on third-and-7 before rambling for 27 yards to the Gators’ 1-yard line. Edison Thompson scored on the next play. Preston Stivender hit the PAT with 2:07 left in the second and the Trojans trailed 14-7.
With a defensive stop, PC could’ve gotten the ball to start the third with a chance to tie the game. Instead, Foreman’s Oglesby busted the game open with an 80-yard romp to the end zone. Oglesby ran for the conversion with 1:50 left in the half to build a 22-7 advantage.
“First half is what beat us,” said Parkers Chapel coach Elliot Jacobs. “Defensively, we missed too many tackles. Offensively, too many dropped balls and it’s my fault, as the head football coach, of not paying attention to details in practice. Next week, the little details matter and that’s what we’re going to do. Our number one core value is winning pays, losing has consequences. Their consequence of losing this game is for me to be detail-Nazi next week. Any little thing they do, locker room not being clean, that kind of stuff. We’re going to pay attention to details next week and we’re going to learn how to win and compete.”
Foreman had 264 yards rushing in the first half without a single holding or clipping penalty and no lost fumbles.
“Last week we had penalties galore. We made a big focal point this week on trying to cut down on those penalties and stupid mistakes,” said Ivory. “I think we did a better job of that tonight. We still left the ball on the ground a few times but, overall, we played a lot better game than we did last week.”
Despite a 45-yard kickoff return to midfield by Lancer Clark to start the third, the Trojans failed to get a first down. The Gators took over at the 46 and, on fourth-and-1, Javon Allen broke through the line and rumbled 45 yards for the touchdown. Allen ran for the conversion and a 30-7 lead with 8:39 left in the third.
The Trojans had a promising 9-play drive end on missed 40-yard field goal attempt, that had plenty leg but was wide left. Foreman then drove to the PC 7 before the Trojans’ Blake Caldwell wrestled a fumble away at the 3-yard line.
PC capitalized with a 97-yard drive in two plays. Caleb Jacobs connected with Tyler Killingsworth for 30 yards before he hooked up with Stivender for a 62-yard touchdown pass. Stivender eluded a defender before prancing into the end zone. The senior booted the extra point with 3:57 remaining in the game.
PC’s defense held and the Trojans fought to cut the deficit to one score. But, on fourth-and-4 at the 23, Jacobs’ pass was incomplete. The Gators used a pair of kneel downs to kill the clock.
Oglesby finished with 127 yards rushing on 14 attempts for Foreman.
“I thought our kids competed hard. Foreman is a real good team. Don’t take anything away from Foreman. They’re a good squad,” said Coach Jacobs. “We’ve got to up our game and be ready to play teams like that. When somebody hits us in the mouth, we’ve got to respond and hit back.”