Calvary uses pass to run past MCA 52-21

It was an unusual week for the Calvary Day football team.

The threat of Hurricane Florence pushed football games to Tuesday and Saturday nights. Add homecoming to Saturday’s slate at the Specialty Sports Complex.

But the Cavaliers really threw a wrench in their plans against McIntosh County Academy. Calvary likes to run to set up the pass. Against the Bucs, the Cavs did the opposite.

Reliance on the pass gave the hosts a high-powered, exciting look. Junior quarterback Thomas Carver threw for 192 of his career-high 236 passing yards in the first half and Calvary breezed past MCA 52-21.

“We definitely opened up the run with the pass,” Carver said. “It’s a little different for us, but teams are looking to stop our running game.”

Carver completed at least one pass in each of the Cavs’ first six possessions. Three of his first 10 completions went for 30 or more yards.

The running of Rocco Griffin (96 rushing yards, two TDs) and Jalen Leary (88 rushing yards, 2 TDs) complemented the attack and made it a long night for winless MCA (0-4, 0-1 Region 3-A).

In the end, it all balanced nicely for Calvary: 199 yards on the ground on 37 attempts. Carver was 15 of 22 passing.

“Our offensive coordinator Wayne Brantley is doing a really good job taking what the defense is giving us,” Calvary coach Mark Stroud said. “We made some big things happen in the passing game tonight.”

The Cavs (4-0, 2-0 region) scored on four of their seven first-half drives and stalled at the MCA 16- and 4-yard lines on two other possessions while taking an impressive 35-7 lead.

Calvary’s defense also scored on Griffin’s 28-yard interception return. Griffin had second interception in the second half.

The hosts scored four touchdowns in a 4-minute, 46-second span. Leary completed a three-play, 42-yard drive with a 20-yard TD run to start the blitz with 4:01 left in the first quarter.

Sixteen seconds later, Griffin hauled in a tipped pass and scored to make it 14-0.

After MCA went three-and-out — one of six first-half possessions that failed to yield a first down — Calvary needed just another four plays to go 34 yards for its third touchdown. D’Quan Douse traveled the final 14 yards, bowling over Buccaneers en route to a 21-0 lead.

The Cavs needed just two plays to score on their next possession. Carver and Grant Thomas, who had five catches for 90 yards, hooked up on a 48-yard pass play to the Bucs 1 and Leary went the final yards for his second touchdown of the half.

MCA, which managed only 85 offensive yards on the night, spoiled the shutout midway through the second quarter with a little help. Calvary’s punter went down to one knee to field a bad snap and was ruled down at the Cavs 32.

On fourth down, the Bucs’ Johnny Cummings made a sensational one-handed catch to the Calvary 2. Two plays later, Isaiah Jason punched it in to make it 28-7.

The Cavs needed less than two minutes to answer. Leary returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards to the MCA 45. A 34-yard pass reception by Jaydon Grant moved Calvary to the 5 and on the next play Carver found Kaleb Park in the back of the end zone for a 35-7 advantage.

The Cavs scored on their first three possessions of the second half. Andrew Wilkins booted a 30-yard field goal to end Calvary’s scoring with 2:40 left in the third quarter, giving the reserves plenty of playing time.

“With the hurricane, it was really one of those weeks,” Stroud said. “A Tuesday game (a 56-6 win over Treutlen) and homecoming, you have to work hard not to be distracted. But we survived it.”

MCA;0;7;7;7;--;21

CD;21;14;17;0;--;52

First Quarter

CD--Jalen Leary 20 run (Andrew Wilkins kick)

CD--Rocco Griffin 28 interception return (Wilkins kick)

CD--D’Quan Douse 14 run (Wilkins kick)

Second Quarter

CD--Leary 1 run (Wilkins kick)

MCA--Isaiah Jason 2 run (Seth Maxwell kick)

CD--Kaleb Park 5 pass from Thomas Carver (Wilkins kick)

Third Quarter

CD--Griffin 4 run (Wilkins kick)

MCA--Elijah Ellison 81 kickoff return (Maxwell kick)

CD--Griffin 15 run (Wilkins kick)

CD--Wilkins 30 FG

Fourth Quarter

MCA--Johnny Cummings 22 pass from Dalton McClellan (Maxwell kick)

Records--Calvary 4-0, 2-0 Region 3-A; MCA 0-4, 0-1 region.

VOLLEYBALL

The Habersham School competed in the Augusta Prep Fall Classic tournament Saturday and won the championship in the bronze division.

The Patriots (19-7) went 3-2 on the day beating Fox Creek 25-22, 27-25, losing to Augusta Prep 20-25, 25-22, 7-15 and Wardlaw 23-25, 13-25 and then defeating Storm Thurmond 25-20,25-23 and Dominion Christian 25-21, 25-14.

On Friday, the Patriots beat Alleluia Community 25-22, 25-14, 27-25.

Top players—THS, Jordan Christy 5 aces, 19 kills, 1 block, 12 digs; Krista Poppell 2 aces, 31 assists, 8 digs; Emma Ricks 7 kills; Makenzie Sparks 6 kills, 2 blocks; Peyton Burnsed 3 aces, 8 digs.

COLLEGES

WOMEN"S SOCCER

SCAD 5, FLORIDA MEMORIAL 0

MIAMI GARDENS, FL. — Annie Sullivan had two goals and an assist to lead the Bees to a road win. Sam Manelis added a goal and an assist and Maddy Lambert and Emily Castro added goals for SCAD, who improved to 4-5.

EQUESTRIAN

SCAD opens with

first, third places

The SCAD equestrian team opened the season with a win at the Preseason Classic—Tournament of Champions at Randolph College.

SCAD’s team Bumble was the Champion with 36 points. SCAD’s team Honey took third with 32 points. The University of South Carolina was the Reserve Champion with 33 points.

Madelyn Keck placed first in the high medal results while Madison Aguilar finished second in the low medal results.

Late Friday

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

PINEWOOD CHRISTIAN 38, BETHLEHEM CHRISTIAN 13

Mason Shuman and David Friedberg each rushed for 46 yards while Mic Wasson was 8 for 16 passing with 203 yards and three touchdowns for Pinewood.

Lake Dasher, Logan Lewis and Wade Durrence each had touchdown receptions from Wasson, who also rushed for a touchdown.

PC;8;16;6;8;--;38

BC;0;0;6;7;--;13

First Quarter

PC--Wade Durrence 86 pass from Mic Wasson (Mason Shuman rush)

Second Quarter

PC--Lake Dasher 31 pass from Wasson (Wasson pass to John Marshall Headrick)

PC--Logan Lewis 18 pass from Wasson (David Friedberg rush)

Third Quarter

PC--Wasson one rush (rush failed)

BC--Lantry Greene 23 pass from Jacob Adams (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

BC--Chandler Maxwell 32 pass from Greene (kick failed)

PC--Logan Lewis one rush (Hunter Smith pass from Wasson)