Cyclones douse Warriors
CCS defense gets 5 takeaways in 42-6 rout of Lawrence Academy
By Jimmy LewisStaff Writer WILSON DAILY TIMES
After a challenging stretch of games against 2-A opponents in the Colonial Carolina Conference, the Community Christian School eight-player football team got down to the business of the 1-A ranks Monday night.
The result was arguably the best defensive performance in the brief history of the Cyclones.
Senior defensive back Spensir Heath snared two interceptions and ran for two TDs on the ground, and sophomore Avery Winstead provided three more rushing scores as the Cyclones launched the 1-A portion of its schedule with a convincing 42-6 rout of Lawrence Academy.
CCS evened its overall record at 3-3, while Lawrence fell to 2-4. There are six 1-A teams in the split North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association CCC, and the top four will advance to postseason play to determine a 1-A champion in the only NCISAA conference that sponsors eight-player football.
The Cyclones were in line to get the first shutout in school history until Lawrence tight end Tyler Jones caught a screen pass from quarterback Jarrett Harrell and took it 20 yards for a touchdown with 14 seconds to go. Before that, CCS had induced enforcement of the running clock after a 7-yard scamper by Winstead made it 42-0 Cyclones with 5:37 to play.
"We stopped the run, and that made them have to pass,” CCS head coach Andy Jackson said. "These conditions ain’t ideal for passing. But I did like that we flew around. We had a lot more energy and flew around the football much better tonight.
On the ground, CCS rolled up a resounding 326-26 advantage on the ground as the offensive line opened holes for Winstead, Heath, junior Ricky Fuller and senior Bryson Barefoot.
The margin of victory could have been more decisive for the Cyclones on the wet and slick playing surface if not for three lost fumbles and an interception. Fuller, who grabbed one of three Lawrence interceptions, ceded two fumbles inside the Lawrence 10-yard line. Penalty flags also flew en masse for the Cyclones, who were scolded 14 times for 130 yards.
CCS struck first in the final minute of the first quarter, using a halfback toss pass from Fuller to junior quarterback Grant Webb to get into Lawrence territory. Winstead followed it up by darting 39 yards for the first Cyclones score and a 6-0 lead.
Winstead was a solid force at one defensive end spot, pouncing on a fumble to thwart a second-quarter Lawrence drive. He followed it up by crashing into the end zone from 6 yards out, sending CCS up by two possessions. Webb added the two-point conversion, boosting the Cyclones to a 14-0 edge.
Harrell was under duress for much of the night from the Cyclones’ defensive line, and the pressure yielded Heath’s first interception midway through the second quarter.
Fuller took over from there, hitting Barefoot on another halfback toss pass into Lawrence territory. Three plays later, he beat man-to-man coverage and took a slant pass from Webb 36 yards into the end zone. Webb tacked on the 2-point conversion run, giving CCS a 22-0 lead that stood into halftime.
"Playing the 2-A guys, they’re bigger and stronger up front,” Jackson said. "We were able to match up front better tonight and I thought we did a much better job up front on both sides of the ball. When you get guys that are equal to you and you want it more, then you can do something.”
On the first play from scrimmage for Lawrence in the second half, Fuller intercepted Harrell. Heath capped the drive, taking it 6 yards for a 36-0 lead. The running clock came forth once Winstead cashed in Heath’s second interception, finishing a fourth-quarter drive with a 7-yard spurt.
Sophomore linebacker Sam Saunders was also active around the football for CCS.
"The defense was outstanding tonight,” Heath reviewed. "Offensively, we were doing good to weather the fumbles and the little missed catches. But overall, we did outstanding, I feel like.”
Lawrence’s Harrell finished 12 of 28 through the air for 160 yards, in addition to his three interceptions.
Winstead led the CCS ground game with 11 carries for 88 yards, while Heath added five carries for 67 yards. Barefoot and Fuller each had 65 yards rushing. Webb had a hand in a trio of 2-point conversions, two running and one passing.
CCS will observe a short week before continuing 1-A play at Halifax Academy on Friday.
"It’s nice to win the first one,” Jackson said. "We want to win all the 1-A games and everybody’s excited about playing the 1-A games now. We feel like we have a chance. I think our excitement will stay with us and hopefully, we don’t have a letdown on Friday.”
jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 | Twitter: @JimmyLewisWT
CCS defense gets 5 takeaways in 42-6 rout of Lawrence Academy
By Jimmy LewisStaff Writer WILSON DAILY TIMES
After a challenging stretch of games against 2-A opponents in the Colonial Carolina Conference, the Community Christian School eight-player football team got down to the business of the 1-A ranks Monday night.
The result was arguably the best defensive performance in the brief history of the Cyclones.
Senior defensive back Spensir Heath snared two interceptions and ran for two TDs on the ground, and sophomore Avery Winstead provided three more rushing scores as the Cyclones launched the 1-A portion of its schedule with a convincing 42-6 rout of Lawrence Academy.
CCS evened its overall record at 3-3, while Lawrence fell to 2-4. There are six 1-A teams in the split North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association CCC, and the top four will advance to postseason play to determine a 1-A champion in the only NCISAA conference that sponsors eight-player football.
The Cyclones were in line to get the first shutout in school history until Lawrence tight end Tyler Jones caught a screen pass from quarterback Jarrett Harrell and took it 20 yards for a touchdown with 14 seconds to go. Before that, CCS had induced enforcement of the running clock after a 7-yard scamper by Winstead made it 42-0 Cyclones with 5:37 to play.
"We stopped the run, and that made them have to pass,” CCS head coach Andy Jackson said. "These conditions ain’t ideal for passing. But I did like that we flew around. We had a lot more energy and flew around the football much better tonight.
On the ground, CCS rolled up a resounding 326-26 advantage on the ground as the offensive line opened holes for Winstead, Heath, junior Ricky Fuller and senior Bryson Barefoot.
The margin of victory could have been more decisive for the Cyclones on the wet and slick playing surface if not for three lost fumbles and an interception. Fuller, who grabbed one of three Lawrence interceptions, ceded two fumbles inside the Lawrence 10-yard line. Penalty flags also flew en masse for the Cyclones, who were scolded 14 times for 130 yards.
CCS struck first in the final minute of the first quarter, using a halfback toss pass from Fuller to junior quarterback Grant Webb to get into Lawrence territory. Winstead followed it up by darting 39 yards for the first Cyclones score and a 6-0 lead.
Winstead was a solid force at one defensive end spot, pouncing on a fumble to thwart a second-quarter Lawrence drive. He followed it up by crashing into the end zone from 6 yards out, sending CCS up by two possessions. Webb added the two-point conversion, boosting the Cyclones to a 14-0 edge.
Harrell was under duress for much of the night from the Cyclones’ defensive line, and the pressure yielded Heath’s first interception midway through the second quarter.
Fuller took over from there, hitting Barefoot on another halfback toss pass into Lawrence territory. Three plays later, he beat man-to-man coverage and took a slant pass from Webb 36 yards into the end zone. Webb tacked on the 2-point conversion run, giving CCS a 22-0 lead that stood into halftime.
"Playing the 2-A guys, they’re bigger and stronger up front,” Jackson said. "We were able to match up front better tonight and I thought we did a much better job up front on both sides of the ball. When you get guys that are equal to you and you want it more, then you can do something.”
On the first play from scrimmage for Lawrence in the second half, Fuller intercepted Harrell. Heath capped the drive, taking it 6 yards for a 36-0 lead. The running clock came forth once Winstead cashed in Heath’s second interception, finishing a fourth-quarter drive with a 7-yard spurt.
Sophomore linebacker Sam Saunders was also active around the football for CCS.
"The defense was outstanding tonight,” Heath reviewed. "Offensively, we were doing good to weather the fumbles and the little missed catches. But overall, we did outstanding, I feel like.”
Lawrence’s Harrell finished 12 of 28 through the air for 160 yards, in addition to his three interceptions.
Winstead led the CCS ground game with 11 carries for 88 yards, while Heath added five carries for 67 yards. Barefoot and Fuller each had 65 yards rushing. Webb had a hand in a trio of 2-point conversions, two running and one passing.
CCS will observe a short week before continuing 1-A play at Halifax Academy on Friday.
"It’s nice to win the first one,” Jackson said. "We want to win all the 1-A games and everybody’s excited about playing the 1-A games now. We feel like we have a chance. I think our excitement will stay with us and hopefully, we don’t have a letdown on Friday.”
jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 | Twitter: @JimmyLewisWT
