WINSTON-SALEM — Davie County’s Zeke Earle crashed the party on Friday night.It was Homecoming at Mount Tabor, and
Earle, the War Eagles’ free safety, decided to make himself right at home.
Earle blocked an extra point,
blocked a field goal attempt, intercepted a pass and anchored a rock-ribbed Davie defense
with a dozen tackles as the War Eagles beat Mount Tabor 19-6.
Davie had not beaten the Spartans
since 1991, but that streak is now history.
Also in the history books is
Davie’s first perfect conference season (4-0) and first outright league crown since
1965.
“We wanted this thing, wanted
it outright,’’ said Davie coach Doug Illing. “We didn’t want there to
be any question in anyone’s mind.”
They didn’t leave any
questions. The War Eagles (9-2) also reached the nine-win plateau for only the third time
in school annals.
Earle said to hand a big assist to
the Spartans (3-6, 1-2 Central Piedmont Conference) for getting Davie charged up for its
road battle.
“They came out there
hollering, ‘Chicken, chicken’ at us and tellin’ us that it was their
homecoming,” said Earle. “Well, we’d already had ours, but we decided to
have ourselves another one.”
Mount Tabor, which still had a
chance to share the conference title if it could beat the War Eagles, was set to jump
ahead after Davie turned the ball over at its 14. But the Davie defense stuffed the
Spartans on three plays. Then Earle burst through and swatted away a field goal try.
“The coaches told me their
left side was weak,” explained Earle, “so I was determined to get a block. I
pretty much came through free and got it.”
The block party was a
momentum-swinger. Moments later, Davie QBDrew Ridenhour hit Rod Tenor on a 54-yard streak
to set up a short scoring burst by Ricky White. David Wooldridge’s PAT made it 7-0.
Mount Tabor answered with a
76-yard option run by QB Chriss Truesdale to cut the lead to 7-6.
But the Spartans couldn’t get
the tying extra point. Once again, it was Earle who flew in and devoured the kick.
“Zeke had the best game I can
remember him having since I’ve been here,” praised Illing.
Davie got a gift second-quarter TD
when a bad snap on fourth-down punting attempt gave the War Eagles the ball at the Mount
Tabor 9. White took advantage, punching in his second TD of the game and 17th of the year
from the 1 for a 13-6 lead.
With 3:17 left in the first half,
Davie struck again when Ridenhour went up top to hit sprinter Nick Propst for a 56-yard
scoring play and a 19-6 halftime edge.
“We had to get Nick the
ball,” said Ridenhour. “He’s become a real playmaker.”
Davie needed to connect on big
pass plays because the Spartans were stacking seven men on the line of scrimmage in an
attempt to stop White, who came in with 1159 rushing yards.
They were largely successful
— White got only 51 yards in 20 carries — but Davie’s delivered just enough
offense via air mail.
The second half was a scoreless
slugfest with the War Eagles grudgingly giving up yards, but keeping the Spartans out of
the end zone. Linemen Adam Boger and Bradford Ivey, Earle and linebacker Neil Rice led the
defensive charge.
“We wanted the goose egg when
we came here, but we let them break one play in the first half,” said Rice. “But
we said no more. And we shut them down.”
“We knew we hadn’t
beaten them in a long time,” said defensive end P.J. Cockerham. “But tell them
this is how it is. This is 1999 and this is a different War Eagle team.”
And Earle, who deserved the honor,
got in the last word.
“Mount Tabor had a chance to
share the title before tonight,” he said. “But in Davie County we don’t
like to share.”
n
NOTES:Mount Tabor is still alive
for the CPC’s second playoff spot. The Spartans go to South Rowan next week. If South
wins, the Raiders are in the playoffs. If Mount Tabor wins and West Forsyth (1-2) beats
Reynolds, there will be a three-way tie for second and a drawing. If Mount Tabor beats
South and West Forsyth loses to Reynolds, then the Spartans will get the No. 2 seed. ...
Davie won’t return to action until the 4A playoffs in two weeks. |
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