Posted Oct. 9, 2015 at 11:06 PM
Updated at 12:24 PM
RALEIGH | On paper, it was considered a mismatch — and on the field it was.Davis Basden had 252 yards offensively and four touchdowns to lead Arendell Parrott to a 52-6 victory over Grace Christian Friday.
The Patriots (6-1) hadn’t played since Sept. 18 due to a forfeit by Hobgood Academy and a Cary Christian contest rained out on Oct. 2, but showed no effects, with 466 yards of offense.
“When we don’t get to play, it makes us want to get out on the field,” Arendell Parrott Connor Bright said. “We were just ready to go (Friday night.)”
Grace Christian (0-8) has lost each of its contests by 28 or more, but the Eagles marched 50 yards on their opening drive. Facing a fourth-and-4, Jackson Keen was stopped for a five-yard loss and the Patriots took over.Two plays later, Basden broke a tackle and raced out to a 66-yard touchdown for the early 8-0 advantage. Basden then added a 76-yard score and a 30-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, giving him 181 yards rushing on four carries in the game’s first nine minutes. He finished with 194 on the ground.
“The offensive line opened up holes and I just had to cut back,” Basden said. “On one or two carries, I wasn’t even touched, so that was all them. I just had to run.”
Down 30-0 early in the second after a 9-yard run by Bright, Grace Christian scored on an 80-yard kickoff return by Trevor Hudson. Arendell Parrott countered four plays later with Bright finding A.J. Banker for a 48-yard touchdown. Bright added a 6-yard run and a 58-yard connection with Basden to close the half with a 52-6 advantage.
The second half was played under a running clock and the quarter length was lowered from 12 to 10.Patriots’ coach Matt Beaman said he liked his team’s intensity, but felt like the players could improve their focus in some areas
.“They came out and did what they needed to do,” Beaman said. “Our goal was to dominate early and build up a big lead. I’m upset about the kickoff return — we can’t have mental lapses like that and expect to contend for the state championship.”
Arendell Parrott will close out the season with three games in an eight-day stretch, starting with Halifax Academy at home on Oct. 23. The Patriots will then play at Cary Christian Monday on the 26th before finishing against Southampton Academy on Oct. 30.
