Eagles tackle well, rewarded with win

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on September 23, 2013 1:47 PM

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Rosewood accomplished its mission.

The Eagles used a stellar defensive effort in the second half to hold South Lenoir scoreless and allow Rosewood's offense a chance to win the game in comeback fashion 24-20.

The biggest difference for the Eagles was better tackling than they showed over the first four games of the season. South Lenoir managed 210 yards rushing, but most of that came on two big plays. Noah Stroud broke a 78-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and Dion Jones added a 24-yard run before the half.

"I thought our defense did a much better job this week of being in position and making tackles," Rosewood head coach Robert Britt said. "We gave up that long run in the first half, but after that we really did a nice job containing their backs."

A new commitment

PIKEVILLE -- Head coach Steve Brooks has challenged Charles B. Aycock's seniors to not only "talk the talk", but "walk the walk."

Taz Groves certainly got the message.

The 5-foot-7, 172-pounder played considerable minutes on both sides of the ball during a 26-21 loss to Corinth-Holders. Groves made a great open-field tackle in the third quarter to help stall a Pirates' drive, and posted five fourth-quarter tackles.

"Taz had a senior career-defining week," Brooks said. "He's not ready for his senior year to end. There's a couple of them, they're ready for it to end and that's unfortunate. We're in the middle of trying to build a program and if the seniors are not going to do what is asked of them and not compete, it's time to get young.

"I told those guys I would ride them as long as I could while were winning. Once we lost, I told them (last) Monday you're going to have to prove to me that you're worthy of getting on the football field."

Spreading your wings

PRINCETON -- Princeton found offensive rhythm hard to come by early during its 42-41, non-conference win over Union on Friday night.

The Bulldogs failed to convert their first three third-down attempts and quickly fell behind 14-0. Head coach Derrick Minor abandoned Princeton's normal spread offense in favor of the single wing. The move worked well as tailback Johnny Frasier rushed for 193 yards and three touchdowns.

Quarterback Michael Wooten added two rushing touchdowns and Dillon Pace added a score on the ground.

"When our spread's not working, our single wing works," Minor said. "We have an answer. They couldn't stop it and we had a hard time stopping them, but it was a matter of who was going to have the ball at the end of the game."

A gambling man

PRINCETON -- Somebody take Brooks to either Vegas or riverboat gambling cruise.

His risks paid off on occasion Friday evening.

The Golden Falcons converted three 4th-and-short plays that led to touchdowns in the first, third and fourth quarters. Another fourth-down conversion kept a second-quarter possession alive that eventually ended on an interception.

Aycock also successfully ran a fourth-down fake punt.

In all, the Golden Falcons were 6 for 8 on fourth-down attempts and 4 for 15 on third-down tries.

"Our whole pre-game speech tonight was about being all-in," Brooks said. "Each kid got a poker chip and they had a decision if they were ready to be all-in or not. Every kid put the poker chip in the bucket.

"I'm all-in with this program ... with these kids. If I feel like we've got a chance to make a first down on fourth down, I'm going to go for it. It's all about believing in the kids and convincing them that I believe in them.

"The kids know I have their back."