October '16, 2019 Page 5B
Reporter
MP FOOTBALL
Continued from 1 B
Dogs' ensuing drive, junior
running back W'tlliam
Stewart took a draw to the
right and broke free into the
open field, outrunning a
Knights' defender down the
right sideline for a 56-yard
touchdown. Julian Riverds
extra point with 1 h01 left
in the second quarter nar-
rowed MP'S deficit to one
point at 8-7.
MP's defense then made
its first of a number of huge
-LEE VS. MP
TEAM STATS
MP UL
First Downs 16 ' 13
Rushing yds. 152 114
Passing yds. 231 167
Total yards 383 281
Att-Comp-lnt 21 - 13-0 21 - 11-2
Fumbles-Lost 1 - 1 2-2
Penalties 4-35 3-35
1 2 3 4 T
UL 0 15 7 6 28
MP 0 24 6 7 37
BULLDOG SCORING
First Quarter
Second Quarter
William Stewart 56-yard run (Rivera kick)
Julian Rivera 33-yard field goal
Rico Harden 31-yard reception (Rivera kick)
Dennis Swain 20-yard reception (Rivera kick)
Third Quarter
Malikk Harris 25-yard reception (PAT failed)
Fourth Quarter
Rico Harden 3-yard run (Rivera kick)
INDIVIDUAL MP STATS
OFFENSE
RUSHING
Player Carries Yards
William Stewart 8 81
Rico Harden 17 46
Wyatt Currie 3 23
Malikk Harris 4 13
Andre Jackson 1 i1
Tripp Shipman 1 - 1
Logan Hickman 2 -11
PASSING
Camp. Att. Yards
Logan Hickman 13 21 231
RECEIVING
Rec. Yards
Malikk Harris 6 ~108
Dennis Swain 2 42
Rico Harden 1 31
Wyatt Currie 1 25
Adrian Hughley 2 23
Andre Jackson 1 2
Pay for year
in advance, get
one month FREE
DEFENSE AND
SPECIAL TEAMS
Tackles Assists
Thomas Warren 5 0
Tra Jones 4 0
Andre Jackson 3 2
Jalen Germany 3 1
Lamont Jones 3 0
William Stewart 3 0
Kelvin Harden 3 0
Jemyan Dennis 2 1
Adrian Hughley 2 0
Rico Harden 2 0
FUMBLE RETURNS
No. Yards Avg.
Thomas Warren 1 0 0.0
Adrian Hughley 1 0 0.0
INTERCEPTION RETURNS
No. Yards Avg.
Jemyan Dennis I 12 12.0
Kelvin Harden 1 4 4.0
KICKOFF RETURNS
No. Yards Avg.
Adrian Hughley 2 32 16.0
William Stewart 1 20 20.0
Wyatt Currie 1 0 0.0
PUNT RETURNS
No. Yards Avg.
None
PUNTING
No. Yards Avg.
Tripp Shipman 3 110 36.7
FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS
Made Att. Distance
Julian Rivera "1 I 33
plays in the game when
defensive end Tra/ones
batted a Davis pass into the
air. Another Dogs' defensive
end, ]emyan Dennis, caught
the floating pass for an inter-
ception and returned it 12
yards to set up MP's offense
at Upson-Lee's 14-yard-line.
Although MP'S offense lost
ground on the series, Rivera
gave the Dogs the lead with
7:51 left in the first half
on a 33-yard field goal in
which he kicked an almost-
sideways ball after an errant
snap was ably handled by
holder Jimbo Finch, also
substituting for Moore.
After an Upson-Lee three-
and-out, the Bulldogs added
to their lead. Hickman
moved MP across midfield
on a 2S-yard pass down the
seam to slot receiver Wyatt
Currie. Two plays later,
Hickman connected with
Harden on a short screen
pass. The sleek senior nm-
ning back did the rest, dart-
ing 31 yards into the open
field for an easy walk-in
touchdown with 3:07 left in
the second quarter. Rivera's
extra point gave MP a 17-8
advantage.
But MP's nine-point lead
was short-lived, very short-
lived. The electric Webb
caught Rivera's ensuing
kickoff at the four-yard-line.
He found a hole up the
middle and then dashed
down the right sideline for
a 96-yard touchdown. By
the time Upson-Lee kicker
Brady Puckett added an
extra point, only 14 seconds
had elapsed from the dock,
and the Knights' deficit was
down to two at 17-15.
But MP'S offense had just
enough time to extend its
narrow lead before halftime.
On a nine-play, 71-yard
drive, it was Curries two
third-down conversions on
jet sweeps that proved the
difference. Both times it
seemed the Knights had the
elusive senior pinned in to
force a punt, and each time
he escaped for a first down
to keep the drive alive. Then,
with just eight seconds left
in the first half and MP at
Upson-Lee's 20-yard-line,
Hickman made his most
remarkable play to date of a
promising freshman season.
Down to his final play of
the half, the freshman lofted
a sweet fade high into the
back right corner of the end
zone, hitting Swain in stride
for the senior's first career
touchdown. Rivera's extra
point put MP back in front
by nine at 24-15 heading
into halftime.
The second half started
out just as well for MP as
Davis fumbled in Bulldogs'
territory; and MP linebacker
Thomas Warren pounced
on it. Hickman then hooked
up with Harris on a couple
of short tosses for first
downs before trying to
hit a big one. With Harris
blanketed in the back of the
end zone by Upson-Lee's
Colbert, Hickman forced
a pass into coverage. The
ball fortuitously bounced
off of Colbert's hands and
into the bigger Harris' mitts
for a most unlikely 25-yard
touchdown. Although a bad
snap on the PAT try resulted
in a failed conversion, MP
seized a 30-15 advantage
with 6:29 left in the third
quarter.
Harris said of his circus
catch: "Honestly, I really just
put trust in Logan. I really
treat him like a brother to
me. I really was like, 'Logan,
just throw it up there. Ifyou
throw it up there, I promise
you I'm gonna go get it.' So
when the ball was in the air,
I was just thinking, 'I got to
man, Bloodser. However,
Bloodser erroneously tried
to field the punt, and it
glanced off his hands. MP'S
Adrian/-Iughley was there
to secure the loose football,
and the Dogs' took posses-
sion with 3:51 left at Upson-
Lees three-yard-line. Two
runs for no gain set up 3rd-
and-goal from the Knights'
three. MP head coach Brian
Nelson said later he would
have opted for a short field
goal if the Dogs had gotten
Upson-Lee, Davis led the
Knights in passing with 167
yards on 11 of 21 attempts,
induding a touchdown and
two interceptions, while
adding 49 rushing yards
and a touchdown on four
carries. Webb was Davis'
favorite target, catching a
team-high four passes for
95 yards and a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Colbert was
the leading rusher for the
Knights, gaining 63 yards
and a TD on 23 carries.
MP running back Rico Harden gets a needed push from his
the goal line for the clinching three-yard score in the Dogs'
Upson-Lee on Friday. (Photo/Will Davis)
offensive linemen as he crosses
Homecoming victory over
catch it7'
However, for the fifth time
this season, an MP double-
digit lead dwindled down to
two or fewer as the Knights
mounted a stirring second-
half comeback. The Knights'
punter, Puckett, pinned the
Dogs down at their own
two-yard-line. Although
MP would avoid catastro-
phe, a defenfive stand would
enable Upson-Lee to take
possession at MP's 45-yard-
line. Davis, who had been
limited to 62 passing yards
at that point, got hot, com-
pleting a pair of first-down
throws over the middle
for a combined 34 yards
to Webb and Tre Bloodser,
respectivel) The junior QB
then fooled MP's defense
by keeping it himself on the
next play racing 15 yards
for a Knights' touchdown
on the final play of the third
quarter. Puckett's extra point
pulled Upson-Lee to within
eight at 30-22 entering the
final period.
After an MP punt, Upson-
Lee got the ball back at its
own eight-yard-line with
9:11 left. Seven plays later,
the Knights made their most
explosive offensive play of
the game when Davis found
Webb on a deep right to left
post for a 55-yard touch-
down to trim MP's lead to
two with 6:43 left in regula-
tion. Upson-Lee head coach
]ustinElder elected to go for
two and the tie, but Warren
batted down a Davis pass at-
tempt, enabling MP to keep
a tenuous 30-28 advantage.
MP's offense crossed mid-
field on its ensuing drive,
but Upson-Leds defense
eventually forced a Ship-
man punt. The sophomore
boomed a kick inside the
10-yard-line and over the
head of the Knights' return
stopped on third down, but
he never had to make that
decision. Harden lined up
to receive a direct snap and
ran directly up the middle,
hitting a wall of Knights'
defenders at the goal line.
With an assist from some
pushing MP offensive line-
men, Harden spun free to
his left just long enough to
cross the goal line plane for
a three-yard score. Rivera's,
extra point with 2:05 to play
put MP comfortably ahead
by nine at 37-28.
Harden said 6f the jolt he
received from his linemen:
"I felt that. I wasn't going to
get it without them."
With Upson-Lee desper-
ate for a quick touchdown,
Hardens younger brother
Kelvin locked up the Dogs'
victory when he undercut
a Davis pass for his second
interception of the season
with 1:23 left. Two MP
snaps later, and the Bulldogs
had escaped with a victory
that keeps their hopes alive
for a record-breaking fifth
straight region crown.
In all, the Bulldogs out-
gained the Knights 383 to
281 in total yardage, includ-
ing a 152 to 114 advantage
on the ground. Stewart
led MP in rushing with 81
yards and a touchdown on
eight carries. Swain also had
a career night at receiver,
catching two passes for
42 yards and a score. For
Nelson said he's not sure
why MP has struggled to
hold big leads this season
and said he'll continue to
address it with his team
with West Laurens coming
to Forsyth following a bye
week.
"We've harped on it a lot '
Nelson said. ' knd teams
manifest and get themselves
a certain way. That just may
be how this team is. Heart-
break kids, or heart attack
kids, or whatever you want
to call it. That's just how this
team's done it?
HOPKINS
ASSOCIATES
Certified Public Accountants
68 North Jackson Street Forsyth
(p) 478-994-1820" (0 478-994-3102
www, hopkinscpaga.com
Serving Forsyth for more than 40years!
's LOCAL
radio station
Classic Soul Hits at 100.1FM
All of Middle Georgia!
The Home of
Georgia Te
A TRANE COMFORT
SPECIALIST IS AS
RELIABLE AS THE
TRANE THEY ARE
405 College Street. Forsyth, GA INSTALLING.
We are DET and BP! certified for testing your
home and duct work for air tightness.
Clay and
Don
Etheridge
. Service On All Brands. Replacement & Repairs New Construction
Remodeling Custom Designed Metal Duct Systems
. Zoned Systems. Trane Communicating Systems
Don Etheridge, OwnerReSidential
Commercial
