Model 8 0 0 6 – 14
Chattooga 12 6 14 8 – 40
The Indians were still flying high off their week one victory at Darlington but Model drove the length of the field with their opening possession and scored on a 26 yard TD pass. Falling behind in the 1st quarter was a test for the Indians and a roster stacked with 8th graders proved they were up to the task. Chattooga definitely looked like a team in this for the long haul as they pounded the middle with #22 Baylor Wilson to set up misdirection plays from quarterback, Jamarious Mosteller #12, and then a reverse to Devin Wandell for 18 yards set up the middle again for 7th grader, EJ Lackey #27 who found a hole for an 18 yard gain himself. Deep into the Model red zone, it only took Lackey two more plays to go in for a 1 yard Indian score. A failed PAT left the Indians trailing 6-8. The Indian defense stepped it up forcing a three and out with huge plays from middle linebacker, Alex Meers #20, Wandell, and a sack from Wilson and Isaiah Siffles #61. The turnover on downs left the Indians back in action in Blue Devil Territory but the offense sputtered with as many plays for negative yards as they had positive yards. Meers at fullback and Mosteller managed to move the chains and then, on 3rd and 13, Mosteller found Quinton Price #18 on a screen pass. Price followed his blockers and, 24 yards later, was in the end zone for the second Indian touchdown. The PAT results were the same but the Indians now held a 12-8 advantage.
Meers and Logan Cundiff #30 stymied the next Model drive and Perry added a 7 yard sack forcing the Blue Devils into a 4th and 15 incomplete pass. Wandell and Wilson gained positive yards but a holding penalty left the Indians with a 2nd and 8 and under a minute before the half when Mosteller rolled out for a pass and found nothing open. Tucking the ball, Mosteller tore down the sideline 55 yards for another Indian touchdown and an 18 -8 lead after the PAT again fell short. On the ensuing kickoff, Model muffed the short kick and the Indians were able to run the clock out for halftime.
The second half saw the addition of #4 Quintavious Knox at running back and #25 Luis Medina at Defensive Tackle. Both additions made tremendous impacts on either side of the ball. Knox took two handoffs and gained 15 yards before his third touch went 49 yards and stretched the Indian lead to 24-8. Model was able to make some positive yards on offense but Medina, Wilson and Perry held their running game mostly in check. Perry had 2 tackles for loss before knocking the Blue Devil pitch right out of the running back’s hand. The fumble was recovered by the Indians and Knox needed only three more touches to pick up 25 yards and his second touchdown. Medina was now brought in to try the PAT and the kick was good making the score 32-8.
With a rattled Blue Devil offense, the Indians pinned their ears back and on just their third play, Cole Cavin #13 snatched up a loose ball and gave the Indians another shot early in the 4th quarter. Meers and Lackey helped Knox drive the field before the Indians third string took over and Jai Underwood #6 went the final 10 yards for the last Indian touchdown of the day. Medina knocked in the extra point and the score was 40-8. A late score by Model cut the lead to 40-14 after the Indians had cleared their bench allowing everyone some playing time.
The Indians piled up 256 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns on the ground and another in the air.
Casie Bryant is the NW Georgia Regional Manager for AllOnGeorgia.