Forrest celebrated their seniors Thursday before kickoff. (Post Photo by Kacy Kincaid)
By KACY KINCAID
Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL — After a heartbreaking loss at Moore County, the Rockets (6-4, 3-1) aimed to bounce back Thursday night and secure a home game for the first round of playoffs.
They did just that in a rainy nail-biter, edging out the Fayetteville Tigers (3-7, 2-2) 34-32.
Forrest set the tone early with a clock-chewing opening drive, draining over seven minutes as quarterback Aiden Cantrell connected with Isaac Cruse for a 13-yard touchdown.
With Isai Garcia’s successful kick, the Rockets took a 7-0 lead with 5:16 left in the first quarter.
But the second quarter brought challenges for the Forrest defense, as the Tigers clawed their way down the field.
At 9:25, Quasean Black scored on a 1-yard rush, with Anthony Eslick’s extra point tying the game at seven.
The Rockets responded with a powerful ground game.
Junior Cohen Grissom carried Forrest to the Tigers’ 27-yard line, and a few plays later, he bulldozed his way to a one-yard touchdown, putting Forrest back on top 14-7.
Isaac Cruse makes the touchdown catch in the first quarter to give the Rockets the early lead. (Post Photo by Kacy Kincaid)
The teams traded possessions, and as the half wound down, Fayetteville threatened to even the score.
But senior Drew Glover came up big, sacking the Tigers’ quarterback with just three seconds left to keep the Rockets ahead going into halftime.
The second half opened with a bang as Fayetteville’s Zyon Nnaji broke free for a 55-yard touchdown run.
A missed extra point kept Forrest in the lead, 14-13.
Cantrell struck back quickly, launching a 53-yard bomb to Eli Bell, setting up his own two-yard touchdown run to extend the Rockets’ lead to 21-13.
The Tigers answered, narrowing the gap to 21-19, but Glover stepped up once again, stopping a two-point conversion attempt.
Cantrell and Grissom then orchestrated a five-play drive capped by another Cantrell touchdown, giving the Rockets a 28-19 advantage.
Fayetteville refused to back down.
Nnaji added another touchdown late in the third, but a failed two-point try left Forrest clinging to a 28-25 lead.
The Tigers then seized the lead early in the fourth, as Samuel Willoughby connected with Black on a 54-yard touchdown pass, putting Fayetteville up 32-28 with 6:50 left.
Less than a minute later, Cantrell delivered another 53-yard touchdown pass to Bell, reclaiming the lead at 34-32 after a missed extra point.
The Tigers pushed into Rocket territory in the closing minutes, but a fumble recovered by Kam Street halted their progress.
Forrest fumbled in return with 2:50 left, giving Fayetteville one last shot.
The Tigers drove to the Rockets’ 23-yard line, but as the final seconds ticked down, they failed to get off another play, sealing a thrilling 34-32 win for the Rockets.
Grissom rushed for 138 yards on the evening, while Cantrell added 106 and Bell with 109 receiving yards.
Forrest will host the Monterey Wildcats in the playoff opener this Friday at 7 p.m.
Fayetteville 0 7 18 7 — 32
Forrest 7 7 14 6 — 34
First Quarter
F – Isaac Cruse 13 pass from Aiden Cantrell (Isai Garcia kick), 5:16.
Second Quarter
FC – Quasean Black 1 run (Anthony Eslick kick), 9:25.
F – Cohen Grissom 1 run (Garcia kick), 3:52.
Third Quarter
FC – Zyon Nnaji 55 run (kick failed), 11:49.
F – Cantrell 1 run (Garcia kick), 9:39.
FC – Black 22 pass from Sam Willoughby (run failed), 6:29.
F – Cantrell 2 run (Garcia kick), 3:07.
FC – Nnaji 15 run (run failed), 1:20.
Fourth Quarter
FC – Black 54 pass from Willoughby (Eslick kick), 6:50.
F – Eli Bell 53 pass from Cantrell (kick failed), 5:30.
