Scoop27
10-12-2013, 08:45 AM
By JOEL LUNA joel.luna@thefacts.com | 0 comments
STAFFORD — There’s a reason why you play until the final whistle. The Columbia Roughnecks almost found out Friday night.
Trailing 28-7 at halftime, the Roughnecks came within a score of the Stafford Spartans but had a few opportunities to take the lead. In the end the Spartans held onto a District 24-3A opener with a 34-27 win at Spartan Stadium.
With four minutes on the clock and with the ball, Stafford (1-0, 6-0) could have put the game away, but a goal-line stand by the Roughneck defense gave them one more opportunity with 2:19 remaining on the clock.
Starting at their own 9-yard line, Jarius Kesee completed a 21-yard pass to Brock Bailey on third and 15. The ‘Necks eventually moved the ball to the 50-yard line after a couple of completions to Cyle Riggins, but that is where the drive stalled, giving the Spartans their first win against Columbia in nine tries.
Columbia’s (0-1, 2-4) comeback started on the second-half kickoff, when Brandon Harris took it back for 94 yards into the end zone.
Then the ‘Neck defense, which had been beaten up in the first half by the Spartan offense, held them on a three and out, something they didn’t do much of in the first 24 minutes of play.
The Roughneck offense took over at its own 3, and 97 yards later, sophomore Dakarius Bell punched it in from the 5 yard line. The extra point was no good but Columbia only trailed 28-20 with 8:21 left in the third period.
After trading a couple of series, the Stafford defense came up with a big play when Elton Woodard blocked a Zach Dodds punt. After taking over at the 25 yard line of Columbia, it took them five plays until Sampson Bankole found Ryan Garner for a 10-yard score.
But Quinn Hendrick blocked the extra point, and he reached midfield before being pulled down. The Spartans were only up by two touchdowns instead of 15 points.
Stafford started its homecoming game off on the right foot when Chance Cornelius ran the opening kickoff back for 74 yards and a quick score. With 14 seconds gone in the first period Stafford was already leading 7-0.
The Spartans went on to score once more in that first period. when Bankole found Taylor Givens on a 52-yard hitch to go up 14-0.
Columbia’s first period total yards on offense was 6 yards on three drives.
Early in the second period, the Roughnecks put together a 10-play, 78-yard drive with punishing runs by Bell and an important Kesee 21-yard completion to Dennis Moody on third and 11 to keep the drive going. Bell finished it up with a two-yard score to pull within a touchdown with 7:02 left before halftime.
Columbia, trying to catch the Spartans off guard and also wanting to stay away from Cornelius, attempted an onside kick but the ball went out of bounds and didn’t go 10 yards.
Stafford started at the Columbia 41-yard line, but on second and 15, senior Adrian Seales ran it in from the 46-yard line to go up 21-7.
The Spartans added another touchdown with 23 seconds before halftime when Bankole ran in the final 8 yards to put them up by three scores.
Bell finished the night with 123 rushing yards on 22 carries and three touchdowns. Kesee was 9-for-22 passing for 93 yards and one interception.
STAFFORD — There’s a reason why you play until the final whistle. The Columbia Roughnecks almost found out Friday night.
Trailing 28-7 at halftime, the Roughnecks came within a score of the Stafford Spartans but had a few opportunities to take the lead. In the end the Spartans held onto a District 24-3A opener with a 34-27 win at Spartan Stadium.
With four minutes on the clock and with the ball, Stafford (1-0, 6-0) could have put the game away, but a goal-line stand by the Roughneck defense gave them one more opportunity with 2:19 remaining on the clock.
Starting at their own 9-yard line, Jarius Kesee completed a 21-yard pass to Brock Bailey on third and 15. The ‘Necks eventually moved the ball to the 50-yard line after a couple of completions to Cyle Riggins, but that is where the drive stalled, giving the Spartans their first win against Columbia in nine tries.
Columbia’s (0-1, 2-4) comeback started on the second-half kickoff, when Brandon Harris took it back for 94 yards into the end zone.
Then the ‘Neck defense, which had been beaten up in the first half by the Spartan offense, held them on a three and out, something they didn’t do much of in the first 24 minutes of play.
The Roughneck offense took over at its own 3, and 97 yards later, sophomore Dakarius Bell punched it in from the 5 yard line. The extra point was no good but Columbia only trailed 28-20 with 8:21 left in the third period.
After trading a couple of series, the Stafford defense came up with a big play when Elton Woodard blocked a Zach Dodds punt. After taking over at the 25 yard line of Columbia, it took them five plays until Sampson Bankole found Ryan Garner for a 10-yard score.
But Quinn Hendrick blocked the extra point, and he reached midfield before being pulled down. The Spartans were only up by two touchdowns instead of 15 points.
Stafford started its homecoming game off on the right foot when Chance Cornelius ran the opening kickoff back for 74 yards and a quick score. With 14 seconds gone in the first period Stafford was already leading 7-0.
The Spartans went on to score once more in that first period. when Bankole found Taylor Givens on a 52-yard hitch to go up 14-0.
Columbia’s first period total yards on offense was 6 yards on three drives.
Early in the second period, the Roughnecks put together a 10-play, 78-yard drive with punishing runs by Bell and an important Kesee 21-yard completion to Dennis Moody on third and 11 to keep the drive going. Bell finished it up with a two-yard score to pull within a touchdown with 7:02 left before halftime.
Columbia, trying to catch the Spartans off guard and also wanting to stay away from Cornelius, attempted an onside kick but the ball went out of bounds and didn’t go 10 yards.
Stafford started at the Columbia 41-yard line, but on second and 15, senior Adrian Seales ran it in from the 46-yard line to go up 21-7.
The Spartans added another touchdown with 23 seconds before halftime when Bankole ran in the final 8 yards to put them up by three scores.
Bell finished the night with 123 rushing yards on 22 carries and three touchdowns. Kesee was 9-for-22 passing for 93 yards and one interception.