Trojans drop shootout
Published 1:02 am Saturday, September 27, 2008
In a high-scoring, hard-fought matchup at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium, Theodore’s Justin McCreary reached the end zone from three yards out in the first overtime to take down Charles Henderson 41-38.
Theodore (4-1) racked up 398 yards on offense while the Trojans (3-2) kept up with the visitors, gaining 369 yards.
Despite the high offensive numbers it was a tough, physical game for both teams.
“We knew it was going to be a battle the whole game, obviously they have a good team,” Charles Henderson head coach Hugh Fountain said.
The scoring started with the Bobcats strong rushing attack.
Running back Todd Neal raced through the Trojan defense for a 64-yard touchdown halfway through the first quarter.
The Trojans went right to work with a touchdown drive of their own.
Junior quarterback K.D. Edenfield hooked up with junior wide out Jawara White for a 32-yard pass down to the three yard line.
Three plays later, Edenfield found junior Jabari Brown in the left corner of the end zone for a score and to even the game at 7-7.
Theodore came right back driving 80 yards in nine plays before McCreary punched it in the end zone from three yards out to take a 14-7 lead.
The scoring barrage continued as Charles Henderson answered again.
Edenfield set the score up with a 44-yard pass to sophomore Corey Dennis.
Once again, Edenfield found Brown in the end zone, this time a 20-yarder tying the game at 14-14.
The Trojans took control late in the first half.
Edenfield put on a passing clinic in the opening half of play as he connected with White in the corner of the end zone with a just more than two minutes left in the second quarter for a 21-14 Trojan lead.
The Trojans tacked on another one, this time on the defensive side.
White recovered a Theodore fumble as time was ticking down one the half and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown and a 14-point halftime lead.
But Fountain said it was the small things that doomed the Trojans in the second half.
“When you look back on the game, you’re going to see the little mistakes we made are what cost us the ballgame,” Fountain said.
Theodore got the ball to start the second half, drove 80 yards in 13 plays and took nearly six minutes off the clock.
McCreary ended the drive as he dove in from one yard out to bring the Bobcats within seven.
After Charles Henderson drove all the way down to the Bobcats two yard line on the next drive, Theodore’s Clinton Moseley scooped up a Trojan fumble at the one yard line and raced the length of the field to tie the game at 28-28.
Theodore took the lead, but Edenfield led the Trojans down the field with just more than a minute left in the game.
Edenfield capped off the 52-yard drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak up the middle and sent the game into overtime.
The Trojans got the ball first in OT, and Dustin Smith sent a 24-yard field goal through the uprights to take a 38-35 lead before McCreary ended the contest with his fourth touchdown of the game.
“We have to go learn from this game, and try to play a tough football team next week,” Fountain said.
Edenfield led Charles Henderson going 14-of-21 for 201 yards and three scores. He added six rushes for 50 yards including a touchdown and had an interception on defense.
Brown caught five balls for 93 yards and two touchdowns and senior tailback Lequintez Reynolds had 12 carries for 57 yards.
Theodore’s McCreary had 32 carries for 204 yards, while Neal had 14 carries for 119 yards.
The Trojans take on Beauregard next Friday for Homecoming at 7 p.m.