West Carteret won their first varsity conference football game in over 4 years Friday night; here's the newspaper clipping:
West breaks ice in Coastal
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NEWS-TIMES
EVANS KISTLER
MOREHEAD CITY — West Carteret’s football renaissance took another step forward Friday night against D.H. Conley.
After losing 23 straight in the Coast Conference since its inception in 2005, the Patriots ground out a tough win in the driving rain, downing the Vikings 21-14.
But for a few tense moments late in the fourth quarter, it appeared like Conley (2-5, 0-3 Coastal) might snatch victory from the over joyous Patriot faithful who braved the weather to witness Patriot history.
Then a voice of reason came from the man in charge.
“It ain’t over yet,” West coach John Lancaster told one overly excited player.
Lancaster’s words almost turned prophetic as the rain continuously pelted the field and the players.
Play got sloppy in the final two minutes of the game, but Conley started moving the ball. And with just under two minutes remaining, Viking Darrion Moore broke free for a 35-yard scamper to pull Conley within a score.
The tension compounded on the ensuing kickoff when Conley tried an onside kick that resulted in a massive pile of players and no initial call of possession from the referees.
While the crowd, coaches and players breathlessly looked on, the men in striped shirts slowly peeled player off player to get to the bottom of the pile.
When the final man was pulled up wearing a red jersey and holding the football, even coach Lancaster began to celebrate.
“I am so proud of these seniors,” said Lancaster. “They have taken a lot of beatings over the past few years, so it means a lot to get this first win.
“Our defense has played great all year. In a couple games, we put them in some bad situations, but the defense has played great. Coach (Mike) Sartain, our defensive coordinator, has done a great job with those guys. They are tough and are young. We will have eight of those guys coming back next year, so we are excited. Our offense struggled at times, but they have constantly led us on the field.”
Part of the reason for the offensive struggles was the rain, which limited offensive coordinator Todd Nelson’s play-calling.
“We are not a big passing team,” said Lancaster on dealing with the rain and wind. “There were times where Conley stacked the box with eight, nine, even 10 guys. With the wind and rain coming down like it was, they guessed we weren’t going to pass it, so they just stuck all the gaps. Then at halftime, we made some adjustments and were able to win the ballgame.”
Offensively, West did it all on the ground, gaining 178 yards rushing with three touchdowns while gaining zero yards passing and one interception from quarterback Chris Dodge.
While Dodge didn’t make things happen with his arm, he made the Viking defense pay with his legs, tallying 60 yards off six carries for 10 yards per carry average.
Again, fullback Chase Chapman carried the load offensively for West, leading the Patriots in yards with 72 off 15 carries.
Conley’s air game was also hampered by the weather, as the Vikings completed one of seven attempts for eight yards.
Rushing, Conley had 135 yards off 44 carries, with 110 of their 135 yards coming off Moore’s 21 carries.
“We are a wishbone, flex bone team,” said Conley coach Ken Whitehurst. “And with the weather like it was, I think it was tough handling the ball. We had a lot of trouble with the penetration West Carteret was a able to get up front, so that was a major issue.”
After a short opening drive and strong kick into the wind from Patriot punter Jackson Riley, who averaged 38.5 yards off four punts, Conley drove the ball to near midfield.
But the hard-hitting West defense, led by Nate Williams, Nic Moore and Dominic Walker, made some jarring hits and caused a Conley fumble on the West 41.
Moments later, Mason Gomola ran untouched for 13 yards and a score to give West the early lead.
Dalton Knight added the PAT, and West was up 7-0 with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter.
But a mishandled snap on the Patriots’ next possession gave Conley an easy scoring opportunity when West fumbled on its own 3-yard line.
The West defense was stout, keeping Conley out of the end zone three straight times, but on fourth-and-goal from the one, Viking quarterback Tyler Nichols scored off the quarterback keeper. Following the successful extra point, Conley and West were knotted up at 7-7, a score that held up through the half.
“The first half was pretty much a wash,” said Whitehurst. “They scored after we turned it over, but then we scored after West turned it over. It was the big Patriot punt return that set up the second West score. And that was really the biggest difference in the ball game.
“West Carteret had great position, and they capitalized. I was very impressed with West’s offensive line play. They did a really good job up front offensively.”
Midway through the third quarter, Gomola fielded a Viking punt near midfield and picked his way all the way down to the Conley 30. Moments later, Patriot running back Jeremy Wilson found his way into the end zone off a 9-yard rush, pushing West up by a touchdown.
The Patriot defense again stepped up for West, stopping Conley on fourth down at the Patriot 21, setting up a 79-yard, eight-play scoring drive capped off by Simmons, which led the exciting finish to the contest.
“At the beginning of the year, I told the kids,” said Lancaster, “the first thing we have to do is learn how to compete. Then once we started competing, we would get some wins. And we haven’t won in 23 times in this conference. Once we get some wins, then the next step is to try and get into the playoffs.
“After last week, we felt like we should have gotten a win. But we won this week, so we are on the right step. We are competing, and we now have a few wins, so hopefully we can start to work towards the playoffs, because that is our goal.”
In order to accomplish its goal, West will have to do what was once unthinkable, win two conference games in a row.
The Patriots’ record now stands at 3-4 overall, 1-2 in the Coastal Conference. Their next opponent, South Central, is 3-4 overall, 0-3 in conference play, but the conference mark is a bit misleading. All three Falcon losses this year have come at the hands of West Craven, Washington and New Bern, who are a combined 7-2 in conference play.
“Last year against South Central,” Lancaster said about the Patriots’ upcoming opponents, “when I saw their players, they were the most athletic looking team we faced all year. They are just very athletic. I am not sure about their record and am not sure about what they have done, but I know they are going to be tough, and their coach does a good job with those kids.”
But regardless of the outcome of the contest next Friday, the Patriots have proved that this year, they can compete in the once daunting Coastal Conference.
Kickoff for the contest at South Central will be 7 p.m.
Here are results of the game:
D.H. Conley 7 0 0 7-14
West Carteret 7 0 7 7-21
D.H. Conley West Carteret
8 First Downs 10
44-135 Rushes-yards 42-178
1-7 Passing 0-3-1
8 Passing yards 0
143 Total yards 178
5-39.4 Punts-average 4-38.5
2-1 Fumbles-lost 1-1
7-53 Penalties-yards 5-40
75 Return yards 32
Scoring Summary
WC – Gomola 13 run (Knight kick), 6:08, 1st
DHC – Nichols 1 run (Giordano kick), 1:25, 1st
WC – Wilson 9 run (Knight kick), 7:51, 3rd
WC – Simmons 1 run (Knight kick), 10:10, 4th
DHC – Moore 35 run (Giordano kick), 1:32, 4th
Jackson got his name in the paper, better get the helmet-stretcher....................................
In town all week
MOREHEAD CITY — West Carteret’s football renaissance took another step forward Friday night against D.H. Conley.
After losing 23 straight in the Coast Conference since its inception in 2005, the Patriots ground out a tough win in the driving rain, downing the Vikings 21-14.
But for a few tense moments late in the fourth quarter, it appeared like Conley (2-5, 0-3 Coastal) might snatch victory from the over joyous Patriot faithful who braved the weather to witness Patriot history.
Early in the fourth quarter, a jubilant Patriot sideline seemed ready to celebrate victory after going up 21-7 off a Reuben Simmons 1-yard touchdown run with 10:10 remaining in the contest.
Then a voice of reason came from the man in charge.
“It ain’t over yet,” West coach John Lancaster told one overly excited player.
Lancaster’s words almost turned prophetic as the rain continuously pelted the field and the players.
Play got sloppy in the final two minutes of the game, but Conley started moving the ball. And with just under two minutes remaining, Viking Darrion Moore broke free for a 35-yard scamper to pull Conley within a score.
The tension compounded on the ensuing kickoff when Conley tried an onside kick that resulted in a massive pile of players and no initial call of possession from the referees.
While the crowd, coaches and players breathlessly looked on, the men in striped shirts slowly peeled player off player to get to the bottom of the pile.
When the final man was pulled up wearing a red jersey and holding the football, even coach Lancaster began to celebrate.
“I am so proud of these seniors,” said Lancaster. “They have taken a lot of beatings over the past few years, so it means a lot to get this first win.
“Our defense has played great all year. In a couple games, we put them in some bad situations, but the defense has played great. Coach (Mike) Sartain, our defensive coordinator, has done a great job with those guys. They are tough and are young. We will have eight of those guys coming back next year, so we are excited. Our offense struggled at times, but they have constantly led us on the field.”
Part of the reason for the offensive struggles was the rain, which limited offensive coordinator Todd Nelson’s play-calling.
“We are not a big passing team,” said Lancaster on dealing with the rain and wind. “There were times where Conley stacked the box with eight, nine, even 10 guys. With the wind and rain coming down like it was, they guessed we weren’t going to pass it, so they just stuck all the gaps. Then at halftime, we made some adjustments and were able to win the ballgame.”
Offensively, West did it all on the ground, gaining 178 yards rushing with three touchdowns while gaining zero yards passing and one interception from quarterback Chris Dodge.
While Dodge didn’t make things happen with his arm, he made the Viking defense pay with his legs, tallying 60 yards off six carries for 10 yards per carry average.
Again, fullback Chase Chapman carried the load offensively for West, leading the Patriots in yards with 72 off 15 carries.
Conley’s air game was also hampered by the weather, as the Vikings completed one of seven attempts for eight yards.
Rushing, Conley had 135 yards off 44 carries, with 110 of their 135 yards coming off Moore’s 21 carries.
“We are a wishbone, flex bone team,” said Conley coach Ken Whitehurst. “And with the weather like it was, I think it was tough handling the ball. We had a lot of trouble with the penetration West Carteret was a able to get up front, so that was a major issue.”
After a short opening drive and strong kick into the wind from Patriot punter Jackson Riley, who averaged 38.5 yards off four punts, Conley drove the ball to near midfield.
But the hard-hitting West defense, led by Nate Williams, Nic Moore and Dominic Walker, made some jarring hits and caused a Conley fumble on the West 41.
Moments later, Mason Gomola ran untouched for 13 yards and a score to give West the early lead.
Dalton Knight added the PAT, and West was up 7-0 with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter.
But a mishandled snap on the Patriots’ next possession gave Conley an easy scoring opportunity when West fumbled on its own 3-yard line.
The West defense was stout, keeping Conley out of the end zone three straight times, but on fourth-and-goal from the one, Viking quarterback Tyler Nichols scored off the quarterback keeper. Following the successful extra point, Conley and West were knotted up at 7-7, a score that held up through the half.
“The first half was pretty much a wash,” said Whitehurst. “They scored after we turned it over, but then we scored after West turned it over. It was the big Patriot punt return that set up the second West score. And that was really the biggest difference in the ball game.
“West Carteret had great position, and they capitalized. I was very impressed with West’s offensive line play. They did a really good job up front offensively.”
Midway through the third quarter, Gomola fielded a Viking punt near midfield and picked his way all the way down to the Conley 30. Moments later, Patriot running back Jeremy Wilson found his way into the end zone off a 9-yard rush, pushing West up by a touchdown.
The Patriot defense again stepped up for West, stopping Conley on fourth down at the Patriot 21, setting up a 79-yard, eight-play scoring drive capped off by Simmons, which led the exciting finish to the contest.
“At the beginning of the year, I told the kids,” said Lancaster, “the first thing we have to do is learn how to compete. Then once we started competing, we would get some wins. And we haven’t won in 23 times in this conference. Once we get some wins, then the next step is to try and get into the playoffs.
“After last week, we felt like we should have gotten a win. But we won this week, so we are on the right step. We are competing, and we now have a few wins, so hopefully we can start to work towards the playoffs, because that is our goal.”
In order to accomplish its goal, West will have to do what was once unthinkable, win two conference games in a row.
The Patriots’ record now stands at 3-4 overall, 1-2 in the Coastal Conference. Their next opponent, South Central, is 3-4 overall, 0-3 in conference play, but the conference mark is a bit misleading. All three Falcon losses this year have come at the hands of West Craven, Washington and New Bern, who are a combined 7-2 in conference play.
“Last year against South Central,” Lancaster said about the Patriots’ upcoming opponents, “when I saw their players, they were the most athletic looking team we faced all year. They are just very athletic. I am not sure about their record and am not sure about what they have done, but I know they are going to be tough, and their coach does a good job with those kids.”
But regardless of the outcome of the contest next Friday, the Patriots have proved that this year, they can compete in the once daunting Coastal Conference.
Kickoff for the contest at South Central will be 7 p.m.
Here are results of the game:
D.H. Conley 7 0 0 7-14
West Carteret 7 0 7 7-21
D.H. Conley West Carteret
8 First Downs 10
44-135 Rushes-yards 42-178
1-7 Passing 0-3-1
8 Passing yards 0
143 Total yards 178
5-39.4 Punts-average 4-38.5
2-1 Fumbles-lost 1-1
7-53 Penalties-yards 5-40
75 Return yards 32
Scoring Summary
WC – Gomola 13 run (Knight kick), 6:08, 1st
DHC – Nichols 1 run (Giordano kick), 1:25, 1st
WC – Wilson 9 run (Knight kick), 7:51, 3rd
WC – Simmons 1 run (Knight kick), 10:10, 4th
DHC – Moore 35 run (Giordano kick), 1:32, 4th
Jackson got his name in the paper, better get the helmet-stretcher....................................
In town all week
