Bulldogs blank city rival
Published 11:33 pm Friday, October 29, 2010
King’s Fork made it back-to-back victories on the gridiron Friday night, blanking visiting city rival Lakeland 12-0.
Next Friday, the Bulldogs (2-7, 2-6) have the opportunity to make it back-to-back city crowns as they go to Nansemond River to close the season.
King’s Fork was led by its defense, a defense that’s been stout even in some of the Bulldog defeats this season.
Oddly, though, a tackle on special teams and a tackle by the Bulldog quarterback might have saved Senior Night for the home team.
King’s Fork got on the board with 0:08 left in the first half when senior fullback Karon Adams powered through the line on a 2-yard run to make it 6-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, King’s Fork initially kicked the ball out of bounds. Lakeland forced another kick and Jaquan Demiel fielded the ball on his 30, split a hole and sprinted for the end zone. Bulldog kicker, and wide receiver, Joseph Hill jumped on Demiel’s back inside the 10 and dragged him down inside the 5 as the clock showed 0:00.
In the fourth quarter, with the Bulldogs holding a 12-0 lead. King’s Fork moved to the Cavalier 10. On a fourth-down play, DeQuan Fofana threw over the middle to the end zone and Lakeland’s Tyree Holland intercepted the pass.
Holland’s return looked as though it was going all the way until Fofana, the last Bulldog back, dove and brought him down at the Bulldog 30.
The Bulldog defense wound up holding the Cavaliers, despite Lakeland getting seven plays inside the Bulldog 10, with 0:21 left to seal the win and keep the shutout.
“We stopped the run by coming together and playing strong as a team. So we forced them to have to pass and our guys back there covered them real tight,” said Bulldog senior two-way lineman George Riddick.
Lakeland gained 101 rushing yards and quarterback Walter Boykins was 6-for-19 passing for 56 yards.
The Bulldogs drove 73 yards late in the second quarter and it actually had to be a bit more as a reverse to Hill went for 24 yards, only to be brought back for a flag, and a 17-yard run by Adams was also negated for a KF penalty.
The big play was Fofana lobbing a pass deep down the left sideline and Davon Grayson making a leaping catch for a 40-yard gain to the Lakeland 8. Adams carried into the end zone on third-and-goal.
Lakeland’s first two possessions of the second half ended in punts and the Bulldogs took over on the Lakeland 45 late in the third period.
Lawan Brown carried two times for 20 yards in all to move the chains twice. The Bulldogs converted a fourth-down play with Fofana rolling out and passing to Grayson for eight yards and first-and-goal.
The first play of the fourth quarter was a shotgun snap to Charles Clark. Clark ran around the left end and scored on a 5-yard run.
Antonio Jefferson led Lakeland’s offense with nine carries for 69 yards. Kendrey Thurman had an interception in the first quarter.
Fofana was 5-for-12 passing for 83 yards for the Bulldogs. Six Bulldogs had three or more rushes. T.J. Hinson carried nine times for 30 yards.
On defense, Riddick had two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Tishon Madison blocked a Cavalier punt, with DeShawn Johnson recovering it, to end Lakeland’s next-to-last possession of the game.
“We fought hard the whole game to keep them at zero (points). With the goalline stand, we didn’t want to let them get anything,” Riddick said.
The Cavaliers (0-9, 0-8) go to Grassfield to close their season. The Bulldogs go to Arrowhead Stadium Friday.