By Barry H. Hendrix
The Thomasville High School Tigers varsity football team defeated the Sweet Water High School Bulldogs 34-6 Aug. 28 at D.F. Anderson Field.
“Defensively, other than lining up offsides, I thought we played pretty well,” said Clint Anderson, THS head Football Coach. “Our guys executed the plan really well.” In a tight game, those offsides penalties can be a problem, he said. “Not being aware of where you’re lining up can definitely be a factor.”
The coach was happy with the way the secondary was making tackles on the perimeter. “When they (Sweet Water) got space out on the perimeter, our secondary guys did a good job of making plays.”
Despite the final score, Anderson is concerned that the Tigers are still leaving points on the field. After a first successful scoring drive, THS was hampered by dropped passes on the second drive. “It is probably a concentration thing,” he said. “The guys, who had drops, are very capable of making those catches.”
For the most part, the offensive line provided clean pockets for quarterback Christian Draper to work in. “He executed the offense well.”
“…Hunter Norwood had another really good night blocking,” he said. “When you have a guy that plays wingback out on the edge, he gave our backs a lot of space to run in.” Norwood, C.J. Rowden and Tyson Davis found the end zone. The job of the back is to make the first defender miss. “Our linemen are supposed to execute and make their blocks, but our backs are expected to make at least one guy miss. if everybody does their job, we should have plenty of space to run in…and extend the play.”
“There were a lot of people who had quiet, but good nights,” coach Anderson said. Jacob Rotton collected two turnovers. “Alvin Patrick on the defensive line had a good night. He had five tackles.” Antoine Pitts, Brayden Williams and Paxton Kennedy were noted for their effort.
There was a Thomasville on-side kick in the second quarter, where the Bulldog player caught the ball, never breaking stride, and a tackle by C.J. Rowden stopped a possible Sweet Water touchdown. There was great effort to run him down. “That was a big play,” the coach said. “It definitely could have swung the momentum.”
Thomasville’s C.J. Rowden scored on a 47-yard touchdown run (8:13 in the first quarter). The point-after was no good.
Sweet Water’s Tyrice Lockett ran 5 yards for a TD (7:15 in the second quarter). The 2-point conversion by Kristian Norwood was no good.
Hunter Norwood ran 51 yards for a THS TD (5:06 in the second). The point-after kick by C.J. Welch was also good.
Jacob Rotton intercepted a Sweet Water pass (4:54 in the second). Tigers had the ball on their own 13-yard line. Eight plays later, Tyson Davis scored on a 10-yard TD run (1:14 in the second).
The halftime score was THS 20-SW 6.
A Thomasville attempt at a 37-yard field goal was no good (8:04 in the third quarter).
C.J. Rowden scored on a 16-yard TD run (4:42 in the third).
Jacob Rotton recovered a Bulldog fumble (4:35 in the third). Thomasville had the ball on the SW 21-yard line. Two plays later, Rowden scored on a 7-yard TD run (4:03 in the third).
The Thomasville Tigers (2-0) will next travel Friday, Sept. 4 to East Brewton to play the W.S. Neal High School Eagles (0-1). Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Cash will be accepted at the gate.
Neal reached the third round of the state playoffs last season, and the Tigers and the Eagles have had some tough battles in the past.
Mike Sims is in his second year as head coach of the Eagles.
The Eagles have several talented athletes such as wide receiver Jarrod Crook (1), linebacker/running back Jaden Ewing (25), and lineman Payton Robbins (55). That area of the state, Neal, T.R. Miller and Hillcrest-Evergreen, has always had a pool of quality athletes.
“They are big upfront. …We definitely have our hands full.”