Wake Christian football uses big plays to top Ravenscroft 49-21
By J. Mike Blake
mblake@newsobserver.com
RALEIGH
Wake Christian was efficient in all phases of the game Friday night, and for their efforts the Bulldogs got a 49-21 victory against Big East Independent Conference rival Ravenscroft and are one win away from an outright league title.
Wake Christian (7-0, 2-0) rolled up 547 yards of total offense in the victory with a balanced attack. Quarterback Nathaniel Williams only needed to complete 8 of 17 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns. The rushing attack pounded the Ravens (3-5, 0-1) up front for 321 yards on 40 carries.
The Bulldogs have a bye next week, but a win against North Raleigh Christian Academy (2-5, 0-1) on Oct. 21 would make for a 3-0 finish in the four-team conference.
TURNING POINT
Ravenscroft had just put together its best drive of the game, a 12-play, 70-yard drive that went without a penalty and ended in a 4-yard touchdown run by Devon Perry. The Ravens were on the board and trailed 21-7 with 1 minute, 1 second left until halftime.
That would’ve been nice going into halftime, but Wake Christian had other plans.
The Bulldogs marched 80 yards in eight plays – including two penalties to assist the drive – and scored on a 10-yard pass from Williams to Connor Collins with 0.4 seconds on the clock to take a 27-7 lead into halftime.
For good measure, Wake Christian recovered a surprise onside-kick to start the second half, which turned into a 34-7 lead.
THREE TO KNOW
Jermaine Callum, Wake Christian: Running back had a touchdown and 126 yards rushing on 22 carries.
Connor Collins, Wake Christian: Returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown, caught two touchdown passes (3 catches, 40 yards), ran six times for 62 yards and was a menace at linebacker.
Donald Fuller, Ravenscroft: The Ravens leaned on Fuller all night. He finished with 34 carries (two touchdowns, 86 yards) and had 33 carries after just three quarters.
BY THE NUMBERS
142: Passing yards on Williams’ first two completions, an 80-yard touchdown to Paul Gore two plays into the game and a 62-yard pass to Gresyon Williams on the next drive.
152: Total yards by Trevin Muse – 108 rushing on five carries.
134: Passing yards by Ravens quarterback Dylan Harris on 12 of 27 passing.
1: Touchdown by Wake Christian’s Brandon Lee on a 1-yard run.
13: Penalties enforced in the first half alone.
1 hour, 30 minutes: Time the opening two quarters took to complete. Homecoming halftime lasted 23 minutes, so the second half kicked off at 9:24 p.m.
10:34 p.m.: Time the game ended.
4, minus-2, 13: Distance traveled by three Bulldog punts.
By J. Mike Blake
mblake@newsobserver.com
RALEIGH
Wake Christian was efficient in all phases of the game Friday night, and for their efforts the Bulldogs got a 49-21 victory against Big East Independent Conference rival Ravenscroft and are one win away from an outright league title.
Wake Christian (7-0, 2-0) rolled up 547 yards of total offense in the victory with a balanced attack. Quarterback Nathaniel Williams only needed to complete 8 of 17 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns. The rushing attack pounded the Ravens (3-5, 0-1) up front for 321 yards on 40 carries.
The Bulldogs have a bye next week, but a win against North Raleigh Christian Academy (2-5, 0-1) on Oct. 21 would make for a 3-0 finish in the four-team conference.
TURNING POINT
Ravenscroft had just put together its best drive of the game, a 12-play, 70-yard drive that went without a penalty and ended in a 4-yard touchdown run by Devon Perry. The Ravens were on the board and trailed 21-7 with 1 minute, 1 second left until halftime.
That would’ve been nice going into halftime, but Wake Christian had other plans.
The Bulldogs marched 80 yards in eight plays – including two penalties to assist the drive – and scored on a 10-yard pass from Williams to Connor Collins with 0.4 seconds on the clock to take a 27-7 lead into halftime.
For good measure, Wake Christian recovered a surprise onside-kick to start the second half, which turned into a 34-7 lead.
THREE TO KNOW
Jermaine Callum, Wake Christian: Running back had a touchdown and 126 yards rushing on 22 carries.
Connor Collins, Wake Christian: Returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown, caught two touchdown passes (3 catches, 40 yards), ran six times for 62 yards and was a menace at linebacker.
Donald Fuller, Ravenscroft: The Ravens leaned on Fuller all night. He finished with 34 carries (two touchdowns, 86 yards) and had 33 carries after just three quarters.
BY THE NUMBERS
142: Passing yards on Williams’ first two completions, an 80-yard touchdown to Paul Gore two plays into the game and a 62-yard pass to Gresyon Williams on the next drive.
152: Total yards by Trevin Muse – 108 rushing on five carries.
134: Passing yards by Ravens quarterback Dylan Harris on 12 of 27 passing.
1: Touchdown by Wake Christian’s Brandon Lee on a 1-yard run.
13: Penalties enforced in the first half alone.
1 hour, 30 minutes: Time the opening two quarters took to complete. Homecoming halftime lasted 23 minutes, so the second half kicked off at 9:24 p.m.
10:34 p.m.: Time the game ended.
4, minus-2, 13: Distance traveled by three Bulldog punts.
