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No doubt about it: Darlington advances to the quarterfinals with a forceful performance
Nov 21, 2009 12:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Written by Alex Farrer, Rome News-Tribune sports writer, published 11/21/09
People keep doubting them, and they keep proving the doubters wrong. The Darlington Tigers hosted Commerce on Friday night at Chris Hunter Stadium and few gave them a puncher’s chance against the visiting team.
But Darlington (8-4) came out and went blow-for-blow with the traditional power, getting timely turnovers on defense and lengthy scoring drives to defeat the visiting Tigers, 28-14.
“I told the kids I’m going to put you in a position to make plays,” said Darlington coach Tommy Atha. “I’m going to give you the opportunity to be the athletes and football players that you are, and, man, we had some kids step up tonight.”
The win moves Atha’s team into the round of eight, where they will host Twiggs County at Chris Hunter Stadium next week. (Darlington won a coin-flip on Saturday morning to determine who would get to host the game).
Perhaps the biggest play of Friday’s game came at the beginning of the fourth quarter after Commerce (7-5) had picked off a Darlington pass with the score 21-14 and driven the ball back down the Darlington 10. On a third-and-five, the Darlington defense forced a fumble by Commerce quarterback Cody Streetman and recovered it to stop the drive.
“That makes the difference in the ballgame,” said Atha. “The defense created some turnovers and rose to the occasion. That’s the second week in a row that they bowed their backs down around the goal line.”
The Darlington offense then took the ball and went on a 17-play drive for the clinching score that came on a five-yard run by Cedric Spivey. It was the sophomore’s second touchdown run of the night. His first came in the second quarter to tie it 7-7 after Commerce had jumped out to an early lead.
“That last drive was a character builder right there,” said Atha. “Being able to take that thing and grind it out and work that clock, probably the biggest drive of the year.”
Darlington got big contributions from several players on offense including Spivey, freshman quarterback Brad Butler and senior running back Tylon Garrett. Butler finished the night 9-for-12 for 103 yards and one touchdown. He also had 80 yards on the ground.
Garrett had 67 yards on 21 carries and scored on Darlington’s first drive of the second half to make it 21-7. Commerce pulled to within a touchdown in the third on a 35-yard connection from Streetman to Carl Allen, but they would get no closer. On the defensive side, safety Tev’n Hamilton came up huge with two interceptions in the first half including the second one to set up a touchdown drive shortly before the half.
“This is as fine a win as we’ve had here in quite some time,” said Atha. “People keep doubting us. People keep saying ‘no they’re not that good,’ but they don’t know very much about my boys. They just continue to make plays and refuse to give up.”
People keep doubting them, and they keep proving the doubters wrong. The Darlington Tigers hosted Commerce on Friday night at Chris Hunter Stadium and few gave them a puncher’s chance against the visiting team.
But Darlington (8-4) came out and went blow-for-blow with the traditional power, getting timely turnovers on defense and lengthy scoring drives to defeat the visiting Tigers, 28-14.
“I told the kids I’m going to put you in a position to make plays,” said Darlington coach Tommy Atha. “I’m going to give you the opportunity to be the athletes and football players that you are, and, man, we had some kids step up tonight.”
The win moves Atha’s team into the round of eight, where they will host Twiggs County at Chris Hunter Stadium next week. (Darlington won a coin-flip on Saturday morning to determine who would get to host the game).
Perhaps the biggest play of Friday’s game came at the beginning of the fourth quarter after Commerce (7-5) had picked off a Darlington pass with the score 21-14 and driven the ball back down the Darlington 10. On a third-and-five, the Darlington defense forced a fumble by Commerce quarterback Cody Streetman and recovered it to stop the drive.
“That makes the difference in the ballgame,” said Atha. “The defense created some turnovers and rose to the occasion. That’s the second week in a row that they bowed their backs down around the goal line.”
The Darlington offense then took the ball and went on a 17-play drive for the clinching score that came on a five-yard run by Cedric Spivey. It was the sophomore’s second touchdown run of the night. His first came in the second quarter to tie it 7-7 after Commerce had jumped out to an early lead.
“That last drive was a character builder right there,” said Atha. “Being able to take that thing and grind it out and work that clock, probably the biggest drive of the year.”
Darlington got big contributions from several players on offense including Spivey, freshman quarterback Brad Butler and senior running back Tylon Garrett. Butler finished the night 9-for-12 for 103 yards and one touchdown. He also had 80 yards on the ground.
Garrett had 67 yards on 21 carries and scored on Darlington’s first drive of the second half to make it 21-7. Commerce pulled to within a touchdown in the third on a 35-yard connection from Streetman to Carl Allen, but they would get no closer. On the defensive side, safety Tev’n Hamilton came up huge with two interceptions in the first half including the second one to set up a touchdown drive shortly before the half.
“This is as fine a win as we’ve had here in quite some time,” said Atha. “People keep doubting us. People keep saying ‘no they’re not that good,’ but they don’t know very much about my boys. They just continue to make plays and refuse to give up.”
