WELCOME — The hard times are getting harder and harder for Davie County. The War Eagles ran face-first into a North Davidson brick wall last night in Welcome and were dismantled 41-24.
The score is misleading. Davie was all but knocked out in the first half, trailing 35-3. It scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes to make the final more respectable.
While the Black Knights, who have won 20 of 22, improved to 6-1 and 1-1 in the Central Piedmont Conference, Davie stumbled to 2-5, 0-2. The War Eagles are at their lowest point in 22 years. They started 2-5 in 1991 on the way to 3-7.
In the first half, Davie’s defensive woes continued. Making matters worse, Davie’s offense struggled mightily after a solid opening possession.
After North drove 80 yards on the game’s first series for a 7-0 lead, Davie quarterback Parker Correll passed for 74 yards on a 14-play, 76-yard march. It was first-and-goal at the North 2. This became the beginning of the end for the War Eagles, who bogged down and had to settle for a 21-yard field goal.
North went 91 yards in 11 plays to make it 14-3. Seven minutes later, Davie experienced the mother of disasters as North registered three TDs in one minute, six seconds.
North converted a 29-yard field goal. But Davie roughed the kicker, North coach Mark Holcomb decided to take the penalty, and on the next play, North’s Khylil Miller ran 6 yards to the end zone. On the ensuing kickoff, North’s Quinn White recovered a pooch kick at the Davie 35. Brandon McCray completed a 19-yard TD to Josh Thomas. Then Davie fumbled on first down and Q. Cunningham returned it 25 yards to the end zone.
Just like that, it went from 14-3 to 35-3. When the half ended, Davie had minus-8 rushing yards and as many punts (four) as first downs. By contrast, North was tormenting the visitors to the tune of 24 first downs, 214 rushing yards and 141 passing yards.
North even managed to bottle up a less-than-full-strength Cade Carney, who came in averaging 143 rushing yards per game. Cade ran for 70 second-half yards to finish with 64.
“They’ve got a couple hosses up front, and they did a real good job of shutting our run game down,” said a somber Davie coach Devore Holman. “They threw it well. I keep telling people we’re so young in spots on defense, and these kids are having to grow up each day and each Friday night. All we can do is keep working, working and working to get better at it.”
The one Davie positive was Correll’s passing (13 of 21 for 195 yards and two TDs, without a turnover). The junior spread the ball among nine receivers.
“We showed we can throw the ball, and to win games in the CPC, we’re going to have to throw it some,” Holman said.
Carney missed part of the week with strep throat, and an injured thumb likely played a part in two fumbles.
“(The thumb is) taped and he doesn’t have all the power to put all three pressure points with the ball,” Holman said. “He’s also been sick this week. But hey, he battled, battled and battled. That’s all he can do.”
With a bye coming up, Davie has two weeks to prepare for surging West Forsyth, which knocked off Mt. Tabor.
“No. 1, we need to get healthy,” Holman said. “No. 2, I want us to compete hard in practice and try to get better. And that’s what we’re going to do.”