By Travis Chapman
It was another great Friday night for football at Apaches stadium, but the young and ailing Apaches fell short to Lincoln Prep by a score of 25-7. The Apaches played without several of its starters who were out due to injury, so the even younger personnel was shifted around a good bit.
The Apaches received the kick and took over on the 33-yard line. Lucious Louie Collins got the start with QB-Rowdy Reagan out on concussion protocol. The first two plays dawned a read option where Collins picked up 5 and the Beast-Whitehead, picked up the first down on the next play. After a bad snap over the head of Collins, the Apaches faced a third and long. The Dime Hollingsworth picked up 8 yards but the Apaches were forced to punt.
The Panthers took over on their own 41. Lincoln Prep moved the chains on a perfectly executed trap play and picked up 25 yards. Big Dub-Weston Duck and Franklin Bridwell blew up the next play for no gain. The Apaches backed the Panthers way up from a massive tackle for loss from Sugar Slade Lollar and Davis Powell. The Apaches forced a fourth down and the shifty Panther back just barely moved the chains for a first down. The Strongman-Nolan Still on the tackle from the defensive tackle position. Sugar Slade made another tackle for loss and the Panthers faced another 3rd and 20. Huddy Glasscock made a huge stick and the Apaches forced another 4th down. The Apaches’ defensive front won the battle and sacked the QB, for a turnover on downs.
The Apaches took over deep in their own territory and moved the ball well on the first two plays and faced a third and short. Luscious found the Dime Hollingsworth for a gain of 40 yards. The Apaches moved into Panther territory at the end of the first tied 0-0. The dynamic duo of Collins to Hollingsworth was reminiscent of the NFL game the night before where Old Man Flacco found Chase 16 times. Again, The Dime beat his man again where Collins found him for another gain of 20. The Apaches had a first and 10 from their 21-yard line. After Carson Powell was mauled in the end zone, the officials found it prudent to call an offensive pass interference, but Collins dropped a beautiful ball to Luke Stanford to nearly pick up a first down. The Apaches faced a 4th and short from the 15. A play action roll out had Luscious Louie Collins dropping an absolute dot in the corner of the endzone where- Darron The Dime Hollingsworth made a great catch to give the Apaches a touchdown. Morales banged the extra point through. The Apaches led 7-0 with 9:15 left in the 2nd.
On the next possession, the Apaches faced a third and long after multiple missed face masks on Carson Whitehead. The Panthers’ acrobatic cornerback made a great break on the ball from 10-yards off and stepped in front of a wide open receiver for the interception, and he returned it all the way to the Apache 20. Huddy Glasscock had the Panther RB in the backfield, but he slid off the tackle and just barely picked up the first down. After an unbelievable targeting call that was thrown as Hudson Glasscock made the tackle from behind on the way out of bounds gave the Panther the ball inside the 5yard line and they punched it in. The score knotted, 7-7 with 6:08 left in the half.
After a promising drive that ended with a turnover on downs, the Panthers quickly moved into Apache territory. 8th grader, Tae Morris made a great stop on a pass over the middle. Senior corner-Conner Bolton made a textbook tackle on the quick out and forced a 2nd and 12 with 1:30 left in the half. Huddy Glassock who continued his dominance made a textbook tackle for loss to bring up a 4th and 24.
Naci- Monster Morales who had a breakout game, made a sack and fumble from the LB position to give the Apaches the ball with 40 secs left in the half. Carson Powell caught a beautiful pass and moved it across the 50 for an Apache first down. Lucious found Golden Gage White over the middle for a gain of 22 with 16 secs left in the half from the Panther 30. Collins unleashed a deep ball to the end zone. The Panther defender jumped 10 feet in the air and picked off the pass and ran it all the way back for a TD as the half closed where the Apaches trailed the Panthers 13-7 at the half.
The Apaches tried the onside kick but the hands team from the Panthers took over on the Apache 49. Panther halftime adjustments proved successful as they quickly punched it in for a score on the opening possession. The Apaches trailed 19-7 with 9:22 left in the third.
Apaches took over on the 20. After a three and out where Carson Whitehead nearly picked up a first down, The Dime Hollingsworth flipped the field and the Panthers took over on their own 40. Naci Morales made a great stop to force a 2nd and long. 8th grader-Tae Morris was in great position and made a Sportscenter Top 10 interception way down the field to give the Apaches new life. Whitehead moved the chains with a great run of 20 yards. After another missed face mask, the Apaches picked up a first down on the next play. Whitehead ran like his hair was on fire and his tail was catching. While 8th grader Tibbitt was at the helm, he threw a TD of 45 yards to Golden Gage White, but a flag was thrown after White crossed into the end zone for illegal man down field while the entire offensive line was just standing there. Yet another terrible penalty, but the awesome Apaches were playing tough through the terrible officiating and picked up the first down.
The Apaches were on the move to start the 4th quarter but trailed 19-7. After a called back TD for two horrendous penalties that were thrown after the play, the Panthers moved into Apache territory and scored again to extend the score, 25-7 with 10:05 left in the contest.
That would be the last score of the contest for either team. The Apaches would move the ball well but fall just short on each of the next possessions in their own territory. The Apaches fell 25-7, but the score did not reflect the successes the Apaches saw on the field. They beat the Panthers up and down the field but costly turnovers in plus territory returned to inside the 20, set up the Panthers for 3 of their scores.
I am proud of our young Apaches. They played without 5 starters Friday night and the already young team found more players with grit to step up and play big. Hopefully the Apaches can get healthy during the upcoming bye week and get ready to host Jonesboro Hodge on 10/30. It will be payback from last year’s game for the Apaches. Come pack the stands for this outstanding group of players!!
IT’S STILL A GREAT DAY TO BE AN APACHE!!
