FOOTBALL: Blue Devils' defense provides early spark

By Ben Coley
Published in Sports on August 23, 2016 1:48 PM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- In the first 24 minutes of Monday night's matchup against South Lenoir, Spring Creek had three possessions that resulted in touchdowns.

The Blue Devils accounted for two of them.

Defensive backs Samuel Pierre and Justin Dixon each picked off a Landon Smothers pass during the first half and returned it to the end zone -- two key mistakes that led to the Gators' 30-22, season-opening loss at "The Swamp."

"For both teams, it looked like an opening night game," SC head coach Aaron Sanders said. "They made fewer mistakes and capitalized on more of ours than we were able to capitalize on theirs."

The first defensive touchdown came midway through the first quarter. Smothers dropped back and threw it into the hands of Pierre, who waltzed 12 yards into the end zone for the first score of the game.

In the second quarter, Smothers seemingly shook off the mistake by hooking up with senior Jessie Casper for an 18-yard touchdown reception.

But just three minutes later, with the ball inside Blue Devils' territory, Dixon stepped in front of Smothers' pass. After bobbling the ball for a few yards, the South Lenoir defensive back solidified possession and sprinted 70 yards to give South Lenoir a 16-7 lead.

"The defense carried us in the first half," said Blue Devils' head coach Jeremy Joyner. "On offense we were trying to figure some things out, but the defense stepped up and made two fantastic pick sixes. They got us through the first half."

Smothers passing game became more consistent in the second half. After a huge goal-line stand in the second half, SC was backed up inside its own 5-yard line.

The sophomore then launched a 33-yard pass to junior receiver Jamerion Dawson. Four plays later, he found Dawson again, this time striding down the sideline for a 48-yard touchdown.

"(Smothers) made some mistakes, but you can't let those mistakes completely overshadow what he also did in the backfield," Sanders said. "When you have a young quarterback, those things are going to happen."

Down 16-14 late in the third quarter, the Gators were in good position to take the lead after the Devils fumbled on their own 35-yard line. But on the very next play, Casper was stripped. South Lenoir regained possession and controlled the ball going into the fourth quarter.

After the Devils took a 30-14 lead with 1:34 remaining, Smothers immediately responded with a 47-yard touchdown toss to sophomore receiver Dominique Morse, who then added a two-point conversion.

With the score at 22-14, SC's final chance relied on an onsides kick, which the Devils recovered to seal the victory.

Sanders and the Gators now must turn their attention to Lejeune with just three days to prepare. And while he appreciated the fight his team showed in the second half, the veteran coach will expect two main developments in his team as they approach Friday --more awareness and fewer mistakes.

"Did they put themselves in a position to win the ball game? Yeah they did," Sanders said. "But even with that being said, we still gotta be tougher than we were tonight. We were not mentally tough."

KEY FACTS

* South Lenoir is now 9-1 in its last 10 games against Spring Creek. Last season, the Gators won 35-14. There were no games played in 2013 or 2014.

Before Monday night, South Lenoir's most recent triumph was a 42-7 victory in the 2012 season. It was their only win that year.

Jeremy Joyner, who won his first game as a varsity head coach, was hired just eight days before the season began.

CLOUD OF DUST

* The Blue Devils relied heavily on the run in their victory. South Lenoir's three main running backs -- Tyrese Suggs, Samuel Pierre and Adonte Ward -- combined for 47 rush attempts and over 225 yards.

DEBUT OF NEW QB

* In his first start, Landon Smothers completed just 10 passes on 21 attempts. He did not hit any of his first six targets on Monday. But he did throw for over 230 yards and three touchdowns, two positives that may signal a bright future in "The Swamp."

"Doesn't mean we've lost any faith in (Smothers) as a coaching staff," Sanders said. "And I don't think the team has lost any faith in him."