Jags rally to beat South Creek
Published 10:07 am Monday, October 17, 2016
- Northampton’s Jaquez Hendricks (#13) picks up a convoy of blockers in teammates Rashard Barnes (#32), Jaylin Grant (#67) and Denzel Ashe (#9) during his 65-yard kick-off return for a touchdown in Friday night’s 32-28 win vs. South Creek. | Photos by Angie Todd
CREEKSVILLE – Trailing South Creek by a 22-6 count at the end of the first quarter here Friday night, the outlook was bleak for Northampton High School to win that elusive first game inside conference play.
However, the good news is there were three full quarters remaining to get the job done.
The Jaguars proceeded to reel off four unanswered touchdowns, building a 32-22 lead and hung on to beat the Cougars, 32-28.
With the win, Northampton evened both their overall (4-4) and Two Rivers Conference (1-1) records.
Three of Northampton’s string of four touchdowns came in the second quarter.
J.J. Miles (in blue) leaps over South Creek defender Zikeyai Cherry (#2) to haul in a pass in Friday’s contest. Miles had a touchdown reception in the game, helping Northampton claim a 32-28 victory.
Quarterback Tevon Shoulders kick-started the comeback by tossing a 43-yard touchdown pass to Rodney Grant at the 7:52 mark of the second quarter. The conversion run failed, but the Jags had trimmed their deficit to 22-12.
After forcing South Creek to a three-and-out on the game’s ensuing possession, a big mistake by the Cougars resulted in a quick touchdown by Northampton when Jaquez Hendricks recovered a high snap over the head of the South Creek punter in the endzone. The conversion again failed, but the Jaguars had crept to within 22-18 with 5:22 left in the period.
On South Creek’s next possession, disaster struck again when a run off a fake punt fell short of the yardage needed for a first down and Northampton took over at the Cougars 39 yardline. Seven plays later, Shoulders threw a 12-yard TD pass to J.J. Miles on the last snap of the first half. The same duo connected on the two-point conversion pass, handing the Jags a 26-22 lead at intermission.
Northampton padded its lead to 32-22 at the 3:32 mark of the third quarter. There, a 25-yard punt return by Shoulders to South Creek’s six yardline put Northampton in business. On a 4th and goal play from the four yardline, Jevontae Hicks bulled his way into the endzone.
South Creek made things interesting down the stretch, scoring with 5:04 left in the game on a Tyrek Bynum’s three-yard scoring run.
However, Northampton, on the game’s ensuing possession, played “ball control” with seven straight rushing plays and ran out the clock to preserve the victory.
It was a different story in the first quarter where the Martin County guests ran out to a 14-0 lead. Both touchdowns came on the ground – an 8-yard blast by Zikeyai Cherry and Bynum’s 19-yard scamper later in the period.
Northampton answered quickly after Bynum’s score as Hendricks took the ensuing kick-off 65 yards to paydirt as the Jags pulled to within 14-6 at the 3:27 mark of the first quarter.
On the game’s ensuing possession, South Creek marched 75 yards in 10 plays, capped by Bynum’s 15-yard scoring run for a 22-6 lead.
Northampton will host North Edgecombe next Friday (Oct. 21) at 7:30 p.m. in their next outing.