Last Play Heartache Strikes NJ Again
August 30th, 2008 Posted in North Johnston Football
Do you remember how you learned the lesson that looks could be deceiving? Each Friday night as I drive up to the field prior to the game, I peer out my car window for a quick look at the players of the opposing team as they prepare for kick off. The first thing I always look for is the size of the young men intent on doing battle with the Panthers. Last night was no exception. As my wife was turning onto the street behind the field house I made the comment that “ This one should be a piece of cake.” I had made a quick judgment based on the size and appearance of the majority of the North Lenoir squad. I was of the opinion that but for a few good-sized players; most of the Hawk roster appeared to be the size of a very young JV team. So much for first impressions!
Over the course of the game I was informed that this very same group had put 49 points on the board in their first outing last week. I also failed to notice a fullback #44 who was all of 6’1” and 220 pounds. I guess there is a reason I’m not doing sports reporting for a living.
The game began with North Johnston receiving the opening kickoff. The Panthers first possession was looking solid outside of a holding penalty negating a huge Joe Harned pass down to the N. Lenoir 35. The offense eat over nine minutes off the clock as the ball moved progressively down the field. The passing game was looking promising and it seemed that we might be getting out to a fast start on a night of plucking the feathers out of a bunch of little Hawks tails. Yet, with 3:03 to go in the first quarter QB Joe Harned is picked off at the Lenoir 15 and has the ball returned up to the 35. Remember the line about looks being deceiving…
On their opening play from scrimmage, Lenoir RB #34 takes a hand off up the middle and sprints down the left sideline all the way to the NJ 30 yard line. So much for momentum! Two plays later with Lenoir on the NJ 35 the Hawks drop a pass into the left corner of the end zone to draw first blood. The extra point is good and the score with 1:32 to go in the first quarter is N. Lenoir 7 and NJ 0.
Now for one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen in football period. After scoring and going ahead late in the opening quarter the Hawks are forced to kick off not once, not twice but a grand total of 4 times as a result of numerous kicks out of bounds. Eventually they are backed up to their own 25 yard line when #1 Laquan Cox brings the ball up to the 50 yard line. Late in the half you can begin to see #28 EJ Knight start to gain some confidence rushing and noticeably play on both ends of the ball for NJ looks crisper. The remainder of the first half turns out to be a defensive battle with both teams failing to produce any additional points and at half time it’s still N. Lenoir 7 and NJ 0. A few names worthy of mentioning on the defensive front showing major effort are #2 Jacob Lewis (What else is new…), #40 Wayne Johnson, #72 Jonathon Hicks and #55 Tyler Hayes. I know, I know…the defensive guys do tend to get lost in the press releases because of so much focus on the offense. I’m just trying to give these guys some notice they well deserve.
The beginning of the second half shows defensive carry over from the first. NJ holds Lenoir on their opening drive and re-starts their offensive engines. Straight out of the box comes Knight with a long 30-yard gain. Throwing a little wrinkle at the Hawk defenders #9 Grey Bruton takes two successive hand offs to produce solid yardage and move the ball down to the Lenoir 11 yard line. With 6:25 to go in the third quarter and facing first and goal from approximately the 7-yard line, EJ Knight rushes into the right corner of the end zone to put the Panthers on the board. The extra point attempt by #40 Wayne Johnson is missed and leaves NJ trailing 7-6 at the end of the third. The defense is really playing well to this point and you can see the enthusiasm on the sideline which in all honesty has not been present often in the pre-season or the first game. It also makes the sideline beat for a reporter a whole lot more fun too.
The 4th quarter begins and the tug of war continues. Penalties negate positive plays for both teams. Then with 8:40 to go in the game an opportunity arrives for the good guys (That would be NJ). A fumble occurs while Lenoir is on offense and deep in their own territory. The funny part was that no one knew there was a fumble until a referee indicated the turnover. With penalties plaguing both offensive efforts the Panthers take several shots at getting the ball into the end zone only to come away empty. The defense buckles down and NJ turns the ball over on downs. Have you folks been paying attention to this penalty issue with the offenses? This time the snake bites N. Lenoir as a result of a unsportsmanlike call that backs them up to their own 17 with 3:35 to go in the game. After another yellow hanky tossing moment, the Hawks are backed up further and it’s third down and twenty with 2:34 to go. The NoJo defense holds and the Hawks elect to punt. Enter the North Johnston Panther special team squad. With one last chance to make a little magic the line rushes the kicker and gang blocks the punt recovering on the N. Lenoir 15. To give an analogy of the instant atmosphere change, it was as if God reached down and poured kerosene down the shorts of the NoJo sideline and struck a match. Now when your shorts are on fire what do you do…you just gotta run don’t ya?
Excuse me Mr. Knight, but would you mind toating this little brown pig skin? That’s exactly what happened. On the second play from scrimmage Knight, bulled over at least six Hawk defenders to score the go ahead touch down. Because of the earlier missed field goal, Coach Nelson decides to ride the wave and go for two via the back of guess who? Success again puts the Panthers up 14-7 with 1:59 to go. Following the ensuing kick off, Lenoir connects on a pass and takes the ball down to their 48 yard line with 1:48 and the clock ticking away. Hold on tight people it ain’t over! At the 1:21 mark, #44 for the Hawks runs straight up the middle through the line and rumbles 52 yards for a score. Just when you though you could relax…Lenoir decides on the two point attempt to take the lead on the road and is successful. Time for NoJo to get up off the mat. #5 Jacques Alston takes the kick off and returns it up to his own 21. The next play was quite scary. A long pass down the left sideline is incomplete to #1 Laquan Cox. However, his momentum carries him off the field and onto the hard track surface where he crumples to the ground beside the chain link fence. From my vantage point and that of the home fans he appears to be in terrible pain. It is first believed that he has broken his lower leg or ruined a knee and play is stopped for almost 15 minutes while medical personnel work with him. Eventually he is loaded onto the Bobcat cart and taken to the field house. We soon get word that he has cramps in both his calves and the same time. A sigh of relieve is shared by all on the sideline and stands but can you say OOOOoooouch! OK back to the final 1:03 of the game. A solid rush by Knight brings the ball up to the NJ 40 with 50 seconds to play. As time too quickly slips away, QB Joe Harned and his offense are down to a fourth down and eight attempt with less than 20 seconds to play. There is a low snap on the ground, which is calmly fielded by Harned. The long pass over the middle is just a hair over thrown and is picked off to end the game. Another gut wrenching last second, one point defeat.
After the game with his men huddled at mid field, Coach Nelson implores each player to pick his head up. He praises the second half play of the team and reminds them “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” The reference is in regard to the conference season not having started yet and their season goal of winning the division still alive. Nelson tells his troops that they were only one play from celebrating tonight but that he is proud of the second half performance. Indeed the play of the second half was the best football I’ve seen this squad produce and there is definitely something there to build on. Time to fret and pout about this one slipping away can’t last long. Preparation for a juggernaut team starts on Monday. West Johnston comes into our house next Friday night. Last week they went down to Athens Drive and embarrassed the home team by taking it’s britches down and spanking them in front of their own fans and family by more than 30 points. Last night, danged if the jokers didn’t pull one out by beating my alma mater another powerhouse in South Johnston. I can really see the benefit of playing this tough non-conference schedule early. Yes, it sucks to lose…it always has. However, we’ve not played any wimps and have been in both games at the last play. No doubt next Friday is a David and Goliath match up but I don’t think Michigan was looking for much from Appalachian State last year either were they…
Until next week people…
GB
