By Brian Pitts
sports@salisburypost.comWINSTON-SALEM ó Davie County staggered to R.J. Reynolds with its first two-loss CPC record in six seasons. Now, after losing 24-12 Friday night, the War Eagles are in a full-fledged funk. Now, at 0-3 in the CPC, their playoff hopes are on life support.
Davie is facing its darkest days in quite some time. It lost to Reynolds for the first time since 2002 and has three CPC losses for the first time since 2000.
It’s a hard fall for a program that finished first in the league from 2003-07.
After the game last night, Davie coach Doug Illing ran his team straight off the field and into a grim locker room. The other side of the field was all smiles. The Demons (4-5, 1-2) revived their season after starting 0-2 in the league.
“I love Doug Illing, not just as a fellow coach but as a friend,” Reynolds coach Mike Propst said. “All those guys ó Devore (Holman) and Barry (Whitlock) ó are good friends of mine. I respect what they do and how they do it. We try to emulate that as much as possible.”
A 67-yard pass from Zach Illing to P.J. Neely pulled Davie to a 14-6 halftime deficit. But the beginning of the end for Davie came on the ninth play of the second half.
Reynolds defensive back DeVyne Julius jumped in front of receiver Darius Wilson at the Davie 45-yard line, picked Illing’s pass and darted to the end zone for a 21-6 lead. Six minutes later, Reynolds sealed the victory when Julius got his second interception, this one on a bomb to the end zone.
Reynolds pressured Illing relentlessly and sacked him six times, and Davie’s numbers were miserable. James Mayfield was held to 67 yards on 18 carries.
Illing went 14-of-30 for 241 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw four interceptions.
Much of Davie’s tailspin can be traced to injuries up front. Center Vince Cioce (broken finger) missed his third straight game. Guard/tackle Lewis Favre suffered a concussion last week and sat out.
“They had a couple (offensive linemen) out, and we knew they had a short week to prepare (after losing last Monday),” Propst said. “We had a normal week. When you give Zach time, he’s real good. Zach’s actually good anyway.
“But if you give him time … that’s why we tried to send heat as much as possible.”
Led by QB Jeremy Peterson, the reigning CPC Player of the Year, Reynolds outgained Davie 331 yards to 259. Peterson rushed for 59 yards on 12 keepers and added 216 passing yards while going 11-of-22. He mixed big plays to Jake Gainey (five catches, 92 yards) and William Miller (three for 95).
As if that wasn’t enough, Peterson locked down Davie’s explosive receiver, Joe Watson, holding the sophomore to two insignificant catches.
“(Peterson) always plays that way,” Propst said. “We don’t always agree with his decisions, but he did a good job tonight. We played him both ways and put him on Watson. That’s what Pete’s going to play in college anyway.”He’s our best DB. I was afraid we were going to run him ragged, but he manned up and did a great job.”