Isaac Cruse of the Rockets goes high to haul in a 36-yard pass from Micah Morgan in the waning seconds of the first half. (Post Photos by Rickey Clardy)
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL — Despite a huge disparity in time of possession and number of offensive plays that kept the Forrest Rocket defense on the field for most of the first half, the Rockets stayed close to the East Hickman Eagles but could never get over the hump to take the lead as the Eagles defeated Forrest 44-34 in a non-region football contest Thursday night.
East Hickman (2-1) had 40 offensive plays in the first half and 21:23 in time of possession while Forrest (3-1) had only nine plays on the offensive side and possessed the ball for 2:37.
The Eagles never threw a pass as the running game played prominently for both teams, with Quincy Mitchell of the Rockets and Micah Godfrey of the Eagles chewing up a huge portion of the yards gained on the ground.
The Eagles took the opening kickoff and proceeded to take the lead in a 15-play drive that chewed 8:39 off the clock.
Starting at their own 31, East Hickman was successful on two fourth-down conversion attempts, including a 12-yard run by Drake Cole for a touchdown.
The run by Godfrey was good as the Eagles led 8-0 w
Quincy Mitchell of the Rockets gets past the last Eagle defender en route to a 40-yard TD run in the third quarter. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
ith 3:21 left in the opening quarter.
The Rockets responded with a 5-play drive for a score.
Forrest used a huge fourth-down play of their own on a fake punt as Micah Morgan connected with Chandler Schnapp on a 52-yard pass play. Morgan followed with a 12-yard run for the first Rocket touchdown. The extra point by Isai Garcia was good as the Eagles led 8-7 with 1:33 left.
East Hickman used a 12-play drive that extended into the second quarter to increase its advantage.
Another fourth-down conversion attempt was successful before Godfrey finished with a 1-yard rush for the touchdown. Godfrey ran for the two-point conversion as the Eagles led 16-7 with 6:21 left in the quarter.
It didn’t take long for the Rockets to score on their ensuing possession.
On the first play from scrimmage, Mitchell went up the middle and outraced the Eagle defense as the sophomore went 57 yards for the touchdown.
Garcia’s extra point moved the Rockets to within 16-14 with 6:00 remaining.
The Eagles continued to dominate time of possession on their next drive as the Rocket defense stayed on the field.
East Hickman used a 12-play drive, culminating with a 2-yard run by Cole for a touchdown with 37 seconds left in the half.
The run for two was unsuccessful as the Eagles led 22-14.
With little time remaining, the Rockets started their next drive at their own 43.
On third down, Morgan found Isaac Cruse for 36 yards in the waning seconds that moved the ball to the Eagle 15.
The Rockets quickly spiked the ball and lobbied for an extra second on the clock as the time went to 0:00, but the request was denied as the Eagles went to the locker room with an 8-point lead.
The Rockets had the advantage in offensive plays and time of possession in the second half and used just four plays to score on their first possession of the half. Mitchell came up big as his 40-yard run for a touchdown moved Forrest within two.
But the run for two failed as the Eagles maintained a 22-20 lead with 10:30 left.
The Eagles bounced back with a touchdown on their next possession. Another fourth-down conversion attempt was successful as East Hickman reached the red zone.
Godfrey completed the drive with a 9-yard TD and Cole followed with the run for two as the Eagles went up 30-20 with 6:22 left.
The Rockets took just two plays to score on their possession as Mitchell exploded for 52 yards and the score.
Mitchell caught the forward pass behind the line of scrimmage from Morgan for the successful 2-point conversion as the Eagle lead was cut to 30-28 with 5:20 left.
A window of opportunity for the Rockets arose as Jon Hightower recovered an onside kick, giving Forrest the ball at their own 49 and a chance for a drive to take the lead. A 20-yard run by Morgan moved the ball into Eagle territory before the Rockets faced a fourth-and-one at the East Hickman 22.
After a penalty backed up Forrest five yards, the Rockets were unsuccessful on the conversion attempt as the Eagles maintained their lead.
East Hickman increased their advantage with a 4-play drive.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Godfrey ran 53 yards for the touchdown to extend the Eagle lead.
The run for two was unsuccessful as the game remained a 1-score contest with East Hickman maintaining a 36-28 lead and 11:48 left.
A successful fourth-down conversion attempt led to a Rocket touchdown on the next Forrest possession.
Morgan found Mitchell for 21 yards on fourth down before Jacob Tincher raced 34 yards for the score.
Forrest had a chance to tie, but the run was unsuccessful as the Eagles led 36-34 with 7:27 left in the game.
Godfrey came up big again as his 60-yard run for a touchdown completed the next East Hickman drive.
The run by Austin Weir for two was good as the Eagles went up 44-34 with 5:08 left.
The Rockets had two more possessions, but could not narrow the margin.
A 34-yard pass play from Morgan to Braiden Bourne moved the ball to the Eagle 12, but an interception after a bobbled snap snuffed out the drive.
After the first Eagle punt of the game, a 20-yard pass from Morgan to Bourne moved the ball into the red zone for the Rockets, but Forrest could not capitalize on the field position as a fourth-down conversion attempt was unsuccessful as the Eagles took a knee to end the game.
Forrest travels to Fayetteville for a non-region contest next Friday night.
Game time is 7 p.m.
East Hickman 8 14 8 14 — 44
Forrest 7 7 14 6 — 34
First Quarter
EH — Drake Cole 12 run (Micah Godfrey 2pt. run) 3:21.
F —Micah Morgan 12 run (Isai Garcia kick) 1:33.
Second Quarter
EH — Godfrey 1 run (Godfrey 2pt. run) 6:21.
F — Quincy Mitchell 57 run (Garcia kick) 6:00.
EH — Cole 2 run (2pt. run failed) 0:37.
Third Quarter
F — Mitchell 40 run (2pt. run failed) 10:30.
EH — Godfrey 9 run (Cole 2pt. run) 6:22.
F — Mitchell 52 run (Mitchell 2pt. pass from Morgan) 5:20.
Fourth Quarter
EH — Godfrey 53 run (2pt. run failed) 11:48.
F — Jacob Tincher 34 run (2pt. run failed) 7:27.
EH — Godfrey 60 run (Austin Weir 2pt. run) 5:08.