Southwest Tramples Andrews, Improves to 2-0
With High Point bragging rights on the line on Friday night, the Cowboys rose to the occasion and shutout the visiting Andrews Red Raiders.
Both teams struggled early with Andrews managing only one first down in the opening quarter of play, and Southwest receivers unable to haul in passes from quarterback Jaren Rainey.
With the score knotted at 0, it was the Cowboys who struck first on a one-yard run by Bryson Jumper to give the home team a 7-0 lead. It was on that scoring drive that the Cowboy receivers came up with the catch that the team needed. Facing 3rd and 8 on the Red Raider 27 yard line, Rainey found Chrystian Jackson who caught the pass to keep the Cowboys’ drive alive. Rainey called his own number on the next play and was stopped one yard short of the score, and Jumper punctuated the drive on the next play with the scoring run.
The Red Raiders couldn’t seem to make the needed adjustments on the offensive side of the ball the entire night, but especially in the first half when they managed to accumulate only 35 total yards.
“We didn’t get any push; we struggled to throw the ball when we tried, and not blaming any one person, but it was a situation where we just didn’t execute,” first year Red Raider coach John Patterson said following the game. “We had one returning starter on offense and seven on defense, so we knew the defense would be ahead of the offense, but the kids are having trouble grasping the system. That’s something we’re going to have to revisit and look at changing.”
The Cowboys added a 28-yard field goal by Chase Bradshaw in the 3rd quarter, and, in the fourth, DJ Gray ran a swing route along the far sideline for 28 yards and the score. The Cowboys extra point attempt failed on the Gray touchdown.
The final score of the night was on a high snap by the Red Raiders while in punt formation, and with several Cowboys approaching the ball, Andrews’ punter Travis Steele kicked the ball into his own end zone, resulting in a safety.
Afterwards, the Cowboys were happy with their running game, and coach Eric Rainey praised the efforts of senior Bryson Jumper.
“We knew coming into the season that Bryson would be a workhorse,” Rainey said. “He has played for us on the defensive side of the ball for three years. He’s wanted to run (the ball) for us, but he had been too valuable on defense in the past. He is a hard, hard runner, has great vision, has speed and agility and is a durable back. He’s our best-kept secret.”
Coach Rainey also reinforced his desire to remain a balanced team even though the Cowboys’ receivers had a difficult night, dropping several wide-open pass attempts.
“I think what’s made us pretty good is that we’ve tried to be well-balanced.” Rainey said. “All those guys are sure-handed guys. I’m not sure what happened tonight. We’re not going to give up on them though. We’re going to keep throwing the ball.”
The Cowboys improve to 2-0 for just the fifth time in school history with the win and look to continue their winning streak next Friday when they travel to Thomasville to take on Ledford.
Coach Patterson and the Red Raiders will seek redemption next week at home when they host the Rams of Reidsville High School.
Southwest Stats:
Jaren Rainey: 10-22 123yds; 4 rush 30yds
DJ Gray: 17 rush 108yds, TD; 3 rec 58yds
Bryson Jumper: 18 rush, 156, TD
TW Andrews Stats:
Travis Steele: 13 rush, 66yds
Jamari Palbusa: 15 rush, 12 yds
Scoring Plays:
2nd
SWG: Bryson Jumper 1 run (Chase Bradshaw kick)
3rd
SWG: Bradshaw 28 Field Goal
4th
SWG: DJ Gray 28 run (kick failed)
SWG: Safety (high snap over head of Steele, kicked into end zone)
Guilford County Football Top 10 as of 8/26/16:
1) Dudley
2) Northwest Guilford
3) Southwest Guilford
4)Page
5)Eastern Guilford
6)HP Christian
7)Southeast Guilford
8)Southern Guilford
9)Grimsley
10)Western Guilford