Quincy Mitchell carries for the Rockets. Mitchell had a whopping 389 rushing yards on the night. (Post Photos by Kacy Kincaid)
By KACY KINCAID
Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE — Friday night’s season opener between the Forrest Rockets and the Creek Wood Red Hawks was a nail-biter to the finish, with the Rockets leaning on their ground game and a late defensive stand to secure a 43-36 victory.
“We are so proud of this team and how hard they played against a good team,”
Delman Hall and Coach Palmer celebrate Forrest’s win over Creek Wood. (Post Photo by Kacy Kincaid)
said Forrest head coach Justin Palmer. “I loved the passion, energy, and brotherhood the boys showed tonight and hope that’s something we can bring to the table every Friday night.”
Forrest struck first midway through the opening quarter when sophomore running back Quincy Mitchell broke free on a 45-yard touchdown run.
A successful two-point conversion from Isaac Cruse gave the Rockets an 8-0 lead with 7:12 left in the first.
The defense then delivered, as Braiden Bourne stopped Creek Wood on fourth down to end their first drive.
The Red Hawks answered early in the second with a goal-line score by Xavier Knight, and after a pick-six on Forrest’s next possession, Creek Wood surged ahead 15-8.
But the Rockets responded before halftime, as Mitchell found the end zone again with under a minute remaining to tie the game 15-15 at the break.
Both offenses came out firing after halftime.
Creek Wood opened with a touchdown run to go back in front, but Mitchell immediately answered with a 94-yard scoring run to even things at 22.
The Red Hawks couldn’t get past the Rocket defense, seniors Chris Rorabaugh and Blaze Bourne with a big third down stop to force the punt.
It was Mitchell again who broke loose from his own 15-yard line for an 85-yard touchdown run that shifted momentum, Forrest again taking the lead 29-22 after Isai Garcia’s kick.
Moments after, Rorabaugh delivered a crushing hit on the kickoff, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Oakley Pipkin. Braiden Bourne capped the short drive with a 1-yard plunge, extending the Rockets’ lead to 36-22.
Creek Wood rallied in the fourth.
A touchdown pass cut the margin to 36-29, and after Forrest was pinned deep and forced to punt, the Red Hawks connected on another scoring strike to tie the game 36-36 with 6:30 left.
But Forrest wasn’t finished.
With the game on the line, quarterback Micah Morgan led the Rockets down the field, finishing the drive himself with a 14-yard touchdown run with 1:28 remaining.
The defense sealed the win when Cruse intercepted a Creek Wood pass in the final seconds.
“We had lots of big time performances on the night with Quincy having an unbelievable game,” said Palmer.
“He didn’t do it alone, though, as it was a team effort with guys like Isaac Cruse, Micah Morgan, and Braiden Bourne stepping up, too. Our offensive line played really well overall. We are going to enjoy this one and then get ready for week two.”
Mitchell powered the Rockets’ offense, piling up 389 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Morgan and Braiden Bourne each added a score of their own.
The 43-36 win gives the Rockets a 1-0 start to the season, as they look ahead to next week’s matchup at Huntland.
Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.
Forrest 8 7 21 7 — 43
Creek Wood 0 15 7 14 — 36
First Quarter
F — Quincy Mitchell 45 run (Isaac Cruse run), 7:12
Second Quarter
CW — Xavier Knight 1 run (Knight to Evin Evans pass), 10:04
CW — Triston Cremeans 45 pass interception return (Brian Sanchez kick), 8:57
F — Mitchell 72 run (Isai Garcia kick), 0:53
Third Quarter
CW — Knight 4 run (Sanchez kick), 10:33
F — Mitchell 94 run (Garcia kick), 10:06
F — Mitchell 85 run (Garcia kick), 3:37
F — Braiden Bourne 1 run (Garcia kick), 0:43
Fourth Quarter
CW — Sam Hines 8 pass from Ben Singleton (Sanchez kick), 10:15
CW — Knight 21 pass from Singleton (Sanchez kick), 6:29
F — Micah Morgan 14 run (Garcia kick), 1:28