RHS football - Princeton News Leader, NC

12 September 2007 — A close, physical game Friday at Roanoke Rapids came down to a couple of big plays in the final minutes that both went Rosewood’s way in a 14-11 win.

Senior Robert Franks created the first big one for the Eagles, breaking through on a fourth down Jacket punt to get the block, and the ball went out-of-bounds on the Jacket four.

After Roanoke Rapids pushed the Rosewood offense back to the six, quarterback Sean Cornman got loose on an option around the end and scored to give Rosewood their first lead of the night, 14-11 after Eric Martel’s two point conversion.

“As the game goes on, he gets better,” Coach Bobby Britt commented on his senior signal-caller Sunday. He praised Cornman’s decision making in the key spot, particularly late in the game. He noted the Eagles played without a turnover.

The Jackets still had about three minutes left to come back after the score, and come back they did. In the final minute, one of their returners fielded a Rosewood punt, and with great execution, the Jackets scored what looked to be the winning touchdown on the return. The officials called it back, however, on a personal foul. Rosewood was able to run out the clock.

Roanoke Rapids took the early lead on a 79-yard run which began up the middle and then bounced outside and got outside the Rosewood containment. With the two point conversion, the Jackets posted an 8-0 lead.

“I called our two cornerbacks, Stephen McIntyre and Jerel Morris, over at that point and talked with them about protecting our sidelines and not getting sucked in on the inside run,” Coach Britt said Sunday. “We didn’t give up the sideline the rest of the night.”

The Jackets threatened again in the first half, but the Eagle defense limited RR to a 32-yard field goal, which Coach Britt saw as pivotal.

Before the half, the Eagles hit another big play, as Cornman hit McIntyre on a 25-yard pass down the left sideline that went for a touchdown. “Getting that score really helped our confidence in our offense.”

After the half, Rosewood came out strong, trying to avoid past halftime letdowns, and kept the ball on the Jackets’ end of the field during much of the half.

Coach Britt said that while McIntyre made the scoring catch, Cornman was also able to hit Holt Rains and Taylor Allen, which kept the Roanoke defenders conscious of the pass and the deep ball. He also praised his running game, and said Cody Richards, Josh Holmes and Eric Martel did good jobs of reading their blocks and making cuts. He noted they were not hit in the backfield, a tribute to their line.

On defense, the coach praised a big interception early by Eric Jones, and a couple of broken up passes by Scott Pate. He also said Pate did a good job punting and the punt team did a good job blocking despite the runback.

He also said his defensive line, Rains, Joseph Person, Johnny Artis and Andre Everette did a good job attacking the Roanoke Rapids offense.

Cornerback Byron Cavenaugh went down on the first play from scrimmage. It was not clear if the injury was a high ankle sprain or a torn ligament, but he will be out for several weeks, if not for the rest of the season.

The Eagles continue to play without senior Chris Hare, but they will have another week for him to heal as Rosewood has an open date this week before a trip to Midway on Sept. 21.

“We’re going to concentrate on Rosewood this week,” Coach Britt said.

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Rosewood neutralizes Roanoke threat, 14-11

Wayne Wilson News Leader 113 N. Wilson St., PO Box 158, Fremont, NC 27830 (919) 242-6301 • Fax (919) 936-2065

Wayne Wilson News Leader
113 N. Wilson St., PO Box 158,
Fremont, NC 27830
(919) 242-6301 •
Fax (919) 936-2065