Sept. 10, 2012
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Sand Rock runs record to 2-0 with 49-6 win By SCOTT WRIGHT During a break in the action Friday night, senior running back Sean Wylie said to this reporter, “Sand Rock’s coming. You tell them, tell everybody.” Wylie and his teammates effectively passed along the message to the visiting Gaston Bulldogs, at one point in the second half scoring 21 points in just over two minutes. The Wildcats took a 35-0 lead into the locker room at halftime and spent much of the second half giving the next generation of Sand Rock football players some highly-valued on-the-field experience. The Bulldogs came out strong by attempting an onside kick at the beginning of the game. The try was successful, giving the Bulldogs possession at the Sand Rock 41. Four plays later, however, the Gaston offense had lost 14 yards and turned the ball over on downs. It was a drive that set the tone for the night for the visitors. Sand Rock's first drive ended fruitlessly, as well. After driving to the Gaston 17-yard line, Dylan Mackey's field goal attempt was no good. From then on, though, the Wildcats seldom failed to take advantage of first half scoring opportunities. After Sean Wylie returned a Gaston punt 35 yards to the visitors' 8-yard line, junior running back Chandler Mackey darted into the end zone for the first points of the night. Dylan Mackey's PAT was good and the Wildcats led 7-0 with 4:42 left in the first quarter. Sand Rock's offense stretched the lead quickly after Gaston fumbled during the ensuing kickoff return. Beginning at the 17-yard line, the Wildcats ground their way into the end zone. Austin Chambers covered the final yard for a 14-0 lead with 2:13 remaining in the first. The two teams swapped possessions early in the second quarter before the Wildcats took over on their own 29 with just under 4 minutes left in the half. After rushing to near midfield, Dylan Mackey threw deep to senior wideout Stethan Chandler. The 57-yard scoring play made the lead 21-0 with 2:14 left in the half. And then a bad night got worse for the Bulldogs. Gaston again fumbled during the kickoff return. On first-and-10 from the 19, Dylan Mackey fired a dart to Zane Farrar in the front corner of the end zone for a 28-0 lead with 1:57 to go. After Gaston failed to produce a first down, Sand Rock got the ball back at the 44-yard line with just under a minute to play in the first half. Following a 30-yard run by Wylie, Dylan Mackey dropped back to pass. The junior quarterback rolled to his right and threw back to Austin Chambers, who was alone in the middle of the field. Mackey's PAT padded the lead to 35-0. There was a scary moment early in the second half when Gaston running back Jackson Bogle hit the ground awkwardly after a run up the middle and did not return to his feet. Medical personnel attended to Bogle for nearly half an hour before he was carted into a waiting ambulance and taken to a local hospital. “I haven't talked to their coach yet this morning,” Jacoway said Saturday. “I think he was knocked out for about five seconds and the ambulance crew was just being extra cautious.” Jaocway and his staff got a lot of younger players into the game in the second half, including a few the veteran coach felt warranted special mention. “Jared Blackwell really ran the ball really hard for us,” Jacoway said. “Jacob Mayo, who played linebacker for us, is a ninth-grader and had two or three big hits.” Sand Rock added two more scores in the final quarter. Freshmen Alexander Mcmahan crossed the goal line from a yard out with 8:42 remaining. Freshman Caleb Kasinger passed to William Cole from 18 yards out with under three minutes left. Ethan Jimmerson added both extra points. There will be more Class 2A, Region 6 action this week as Sand Rock (2-0) travels to North Sand Mountain and Gaston (0-2) hosts Section. |