Sandalwood- What was intended to be an away game for Sandalwood turned into a home game for the Saints as the contest between Terry Parker and Sandalwood was relocated from Parker to Sandalwood early Friday. How this would affect the players physically and psychologically remained to be seen, as Sandalwood dawned their white away jerseys and Parker their home red jerseys at Dennis Bartley Field.
Ironically Dennis Bartley, a long time assistant coach and former linebacker at Sandalwood was in attendance to see a rivalry renewed as the game took on a much different look than years past. Their last meeting in 2016 saw Sandalwood lead by Head Coach Adam Geis blow out Parker 60-6 at home. Yet a new coach in Charon Dorsey and a new team for Parker faced Sandalwood on Friday night, and the game would have a much more competitive feel.
Early on both teams struggled to move the ball as both defenses played well. Parker’s defensive backs flustered the Sandalwood wide receivers as they were not able to get open down field. For Sandalwood, linebacker Branden Jennings made several tackles and recorded two sacks early on. Aiding him was defensive end James Walton who also recorded two sacks as well. The pressure flustered quarterback Tabari Rollins early on forcing him to make plays with his legs. Rollins, Artis Maddox and
William Wyche Jr rotated at quarterback, however Wyche would depart early due to injury in the game. He would not return.
To combat the pass rush, Parker put the ball in their running back Jajuan Turner’s hands and he delivered. He burst early runs for first downs including a 42 yard scamper down the Sandalwood sideline. However penalties and lack of execution kept Parker off the score board early on.
The same could be said for Sandalwood. Nice runs by Jeff Sims produced first downs for the Saints. However they failed to execute the explosive plays in the passing game. This resulted in a scoreless first quarter.
Late in the second, Sandalwood running back Jeremiah Huntley would break loose on a 40-yard run to give the Saints offense much needed life. Next on the drive Jeff Sims would pick up a first down to the Parker 7-yard line on a scramble. Sims finished the drive on the ground, running it in on a designed run to put the first points on the board as Sandalwood led 7-0 with a little over one minute to play in the half.
Poor clock management by Parker allowed for Sandalwood to get the ball back at mid-field with time to make a play for the end zone. Sandalwood drove down the field on quick passing plays and draws. Then with only three seconds left in the half and the ball at the 5-yard line, Jeremiah Huntley would power into the end-zone for the Saints, as they took a 14-0 lead into halftime.
In the second half, Parker would mount a comeback inspired by Tabari Rollins. First Rollins ran for a long 40 yard gain to put the ball on the Saints 30-yard line. Then after missing on a deep ball, he returned to the air hitting wide receiver Tyrone Williams on a slant for a touchdown. Rollins would top that on the 2-point conversion when he scrambled for several seconds and his Turner on a zip to the endzone. All of a sudden it was 14-8, as the Braves mounted a charge late in the second quarter.
After a penalty riddled 3rd and 4th quarters, Terry Parker would over come the laundry on the field as Turner put the Saints defense in the spin cycle. After teammate Artis Maddox made a skying catch to set the team up in Saints territory, Turner would change direction on a zone hand-off and rumble 38 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 14-14.
Parker elected to go for a 2-point conversion instead of an extra point, however the pass intended for Tyrone Williams was intercepted by Sandalwood’s defensive back Christian Ellis. The interception kept the game knotted at 14.
With their backs against the wall and momentum shifted, Sandalwood needed a player to respond and that player was sophomore running-back Jeremiah Huntely. Huntley would pick up a big gain on a long run up the middle for 41 yards down to the Parker 30yd line. Huntley would then run for another first down to the Parker 10 yard line. Two plays later, Huntley would cement the drive on a 10-yard run up the middle for a touchdown.
Sandalwood would attempt a 2-point conversion but fail, giving them a 20-14 lead with a little over two minutes to play. However Parker’s final drive would end on a 4th down deep in completion as Sandalwood got the close win as the official away team. Coach Geis said after the game ” Got the win that’s all that matters. Week one is always tricky no matter who you play, everyone is fired up”. Coach Charon Dorsey declined comment after the game.
*Jeremiah Huntley finished with 28 carries for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns *Jeff Sims added 10 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown as well. * JuJaun Turner ran for 105yds 1 TD and a 2pt conv. *Sandalwood’s defense registered 7 sacks in the game.
