MOCKSVILLE — The “Hammer Team” nailed down a long-awaited 4A Central
Piedmont Conference victory for Davie County.
The War Eagles held off Mount Tabor 14-12 on
Friday night, mostly because of linebacker-turned-fullback Neil Rice, who
smashed into the end zone for one touchdown and turned three critical
fourth-down carries into first downs.
Rice was once a celebrated tailback at South
Davie Middle, School. In fact, he rambled for 385 yards in a long-ago
championship game.
“This brought back memories,” laughed Rice,
who could smile for the first time in weeks. “I’ve been waiting all year to
get it. And if the coaches want me to, I’ll keep doing it.”
Rice’s heroics allowed the Davie seniors to go
out winners and wiped away some of the bitter taste of three straight
fourth-quarter collapses in CPCplay.
“Rice is our bull,” said Davie coach Doug
Illing. “Maybe next year we’ll let him pound on people a little bit.”
Davie’s other touchdown came on a pass from
quarterback Dan Sullivan to a wide-open Nick Propst.
“Dan’s taken some criticism this year,”
said Illing of the junior who had to fill the huge cleats of graduated star Drew
Ridenhour. “But he’s hung in there, kept his head high. And tonight, he got
it done.”
Davie led 14-6 heading to the fourth quarter,
roughly the same position its been in each of the past three weeks.
“We huddled up about that,” said Illing.
“It’s all been going against us, but tonight, we were determined to make our
breaks.”
But the Spartans (1-8-1, 0-4) scored a touchdown
with 5:55 remaining to make it 14-12 and Davie fans could hardly bear to watch
the two-point conversion attempt for the tie.
But corner Adam Sain led a pile of War Eagles,
who stacked up an option pitch to Mount Tabor star Reggie Price, who had
trampled the War Eagles for 99 first-half yards, just short of the goal.
Then Davie worked on the clock with Rice and Mike
Clement rushes and with Sullivan hitting a pair of key passes on third downs.
The moment of truth came with 3:17 left, with
Davie facing fourth-and-1 at its own 40.
“I figured we were good for a yard,” said
Illing.
The War Eagles (4-7, 1-3) were. The “Hammer
Team” got the yardage, with Rice acting as the
anvil.
n
NOTES:Illing can’t wait for next year when most
of the War Eagle stars return. “Our defense ought to reckoned with in the
state,” said Illing. ... Illing was delighted to see senior Propst go out with
a touchdown grab. ... Another senior Rod Tenor, set modern career marks at the
school (since 1981) with 71 catches and 994 yards. Previous record-holder Thadd
Johnson, who graduated last spring, had totals of 65 and 970. Said Tenor who has
been hobbling a good part of the season, “I guess this means I must have done
something in my career.” ... Davie held Price to just six yards in the second
half. ... Illing said that huge, fast Tabor was the best 1-8-1 in history. ...
David Wooldridge kicked two vital extra points.
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