The Huddle: Coach Demetris Royal's local football highlights - The good, the bad and the flags

On Thursday night September 12th, the 1-2 Central Davidson Spartans rolled into the hive to take on the 2-1 Lexington Yellow Jackets. The game was moved up due to fear of possible inclement weather on Friday night. Lexington was looking for revenge after suffering a deflating loss to Central Davidson last year. A fake punt by Central Davidson seemed to be the turning point of the game resulting in a 21-30 loss for the LexingtonYellow Jackets. A 7:00 p.m. kick off with cool nice breeze set the mood for Thursday night football. 

Lexington won the coin flip and elected to receive the opening kickoff. The first kickoff from Central Davidson was short, as if they wanted to play it safe and not give Lexington deep speedy returners a chance for a threatening return. Central Davidson had an early personal foul that moved Lexington up on the drive. Senior Qwazir Craven had a big run early in the drive to keep the chains moving. A few plays later senior quarterback Jaylen Henderson found an opening in senior Rahzel Ewart for a big gain.

The Yellow Jackets worked the ball down to Central Davidson’s 15 yard line only to have to settle for a Hugo Martinez Rodriguez field goal making it 3-0 in favor of the Yellow Jackets. 

The following kick-off senior Shykese Plush came up big for the Yellow Jackets stopping what would seem to be a huge return for Central Davidson. The Central Davidson offense has been used for years to perfection and had the Yellow Jackets back against the wall as they used the run game to move the ball down the field as well as eat up the clock. With the first quarter ending the Yellow Jackets were still ahead but Central Davidson’s run game was moving the chains. In the first play of the quarter Central Davidson was able to score a touchdown and add an extra point making 7-3 in favor of Central Davidson. 

Central Davidson's next kickoff was fielded by Craven who had a big return for the Yellow Jackets. Starting on the 50 yard line Henderson found Kamari McDonald for a Yellow Jacket first down. A few plays later Henderson had a quarterback keeper for a Yellow Jacket first down. A couple of plays later Henderson would find junior tight end Collin Weeks for a touchdown pass down the seam. A confident Yellow Jacket team elected to go for 2 with K’brian Robinson running and converting making it 11-7. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets a personal flag was called and was enforced on the kickoff. 

On the following kick off, a block in the back was called against Central Davidson pushing their return back and having them start from their 20 yard line. Another slow, but effective drive from Central Davidson drained the clock. On a 4th and 3rd, Central Davidson took the field using a hard count to try and make the Yellow Jacket jump offsides. However, The Yellow Jackets showed discipline and didn't budge resulting in a Central Davidson timeout as the play clock ran down. After a timeout, Central Davidson came out to run a regular play and converted on a crucial 4th down that would lead to a new set of downs. Central Davidson continued to use run plays to move the chains. Shortly after the 4th down conversion they added a rushing touchdown with extra point making the score 14-11. 

Central Davidson kicked off to the Lexington Yellow Jackets with 1:03 left in the half. The Yellow Jackets then used a hurry up offense to help deal with the limited time, catching themselves faced with a 4th and 2 yard to go, which ended up in a fumble and Central Davidson gaining possession . 

Central Davidson on the next possession ran the ball as they went into halftime with the lead. With about 4 seconds left in the half Central Davidson called a timeout. The coaching staff dialed in a Hail Mary attempt that was incomplete. Going into halftime Central Davidson was    ahead 14-11.

Down but not out, the Yellow Jackets started the 2nd half kicking to Central Davidson. On the play which seemed to be the theme for the night a flag was thrown. This flag would result in Central Davidson starting at the 35. On a 3rd and 6 a holding penalty was called on Central Davidson moving them back and making it 3rd and 16. Central Davidson faced a 4th and 11 converted for a first down run moving the chains. The Yellow Jackets defense was able to have Central Davidson go from a 3rd and 8 to 3rd and 13 after a false start call on Central Davidson. On the next play Central Davidson had a touchdown run called back due to a holding penalty and then rolled the dice on a 4th and 15 with a pass play that did not convert, giving the ball back to the Yellow Jackets. 

The Yellow Jackets on the next drive had a big run from Craven. Few plays later Rahzel came up big with a first down catch. Yellow Jackets would go back to Craven and he would deliver with a first down run. The Yellow Jackets seemed to be working the clock on the drive, faced with a 4th and 10 with 28 seconds left in the 3rd, Yellow Jackets punted the ball back to Central Davidson deep in their own territory, sticking to the run game that had been effective for them all night, ended up fumbling on the 3 yard line. Junior, Zakari Plush came up huge for the Yellow Jackets with the recovery then Craven would end up punching it in for the touchdown on the Yellow Jacket’s next drive. Hugo would add an extra point making it 18-14 in the Yellow Jackets favor. 

Lexington started the 4th kicking off to Central Davidson. Central Davidson would fumble on first down but recover and end up breaking a big run that flipped the field for them and had them sitting 25 yards away from the goal line. What seemed to be a recurring theme that haunted the Yellow Jackets striked again as flags were thrown for a face mask penalty on a 3rd down and 6 to go. It would be a costly mistake as Central Davidson would now start at the Yellow Jacket’s 3 yard line, sticking with the run game for what seemed to be all night, running another touchdown and adding an extra point to make it 21-18. Central Davidson being up in score with 5 mins left in the game. 

It was another short kickoff to the Yellow Jackets. On the first play Henderson was able to find his tight end Weeks for a first down pass. Senior Naquel Wood would be stopped short on a pass making it a crucial 3rd down and 1 with time ticking. Craven came up with a run to keep the drive alive and chains moving for a Yellow Jackets first down. A few plays later Henderson found a wide open Rahzel who was able to catch and run for the Yellow Jackets touchdown and Hugo once again added an extra point making the game 25-21 in the Yellow Jacket’s favor. 

The Lexington Yellow Jackets on the following kickoff saw flags go in the air against them as offside was called, frustrated fans saw the team get pushed back to start the kick off and began to cheer on the senior kicker as chants of “ Hugo” chimed from the stands. On the return yet another flag was thrown and moved Central Davidson to start the drive close to mid field, after running heavy all night and trying to catch Yellow Jackets off guard with a first down pass that resulted as incomplete. They went back to old reliability as Central Davidson was able to get a first down off of a 3rd down conversion deflating the Yellow Jackets. With yet another flag being thrown, Central Davidson was able to move to the 32 yard line, with 1:58 left in the game hope for the Yellow Jackets was not lost as a holding penalty from Central Davidson was called making it 1st and 20 from the Yellow Jackets 42. Jordan Summers came up with a big tackle to give the Yellow Jacket’s momentum. Back against the wall on a 3rd and 11, Central Davidson drew up a pass play that resulted in an incompletion. On the next play a controversial 4th down pass interference call on the Yellow Jackets that had their fans in disbelief. This call would only set up Central Davidson for a run touchdown to make the game 28-25 in favor of Central Davidson.

Following kickoff was a short kick that had the Yellow Jackets starting on the 40. First play out the gate was a first down catch and run from Henderson to Weeks the Yellow Jackets found themselves with a

2nd and 12 with 33 seconds left. An interception was thrown by the Yellow Jackets  left Central starting at the one yard line. A defeated Yellow Jackets team gave up a 99 yard run touch to seal the deal for Central Davidson. Central Davidson would fail on 2 pt conversion leaving the game at 34-25 to end the night. 

MY TAKE: 

Central Davidson runs a very simple but effective offense. The Yellow Jackets tonight would need to stop their run game, as well as score every chance they got on offense to make Central DAvidson uncomfortable and put them in a pass situation. The Yellow Jackets played tough tonight but some of the bad habits that have seemed to be following them past couple seasons are slow starts on offense and penalties. Luckily for the Yellow Jackets they won't have to face an offense like Central Davidson any time soon. The team continues to show growth each game and with conference starting next week Yellow Jackets have to be feeling optimistic about conference play. 

MY MVP:

Qwazir Craven

Offense and Defensive Line - Hugo Martinez Rodriguez

 OFFENSE: Jaylen Henderson, Collin Weeks, Rahzel Ewart 

Defense: Zakari Plush, Zakhi White, Ni’Jaylin Gilmore, Jordan Summers, Naquel Wood,