Middle School Indians take the sting out of the Yellow Jackets

The Chattooga Middle School Indians took on the Yellow Jackets of Rockmart Tuesday, September 22nd. The showdown, hosted at Chattooga High School’s Little Big Horn, featured a match-up of two teams battling for second place in the league. The Indians opened the season 2-0 before falling to a Cedartown team led by the cousin of UGA sophomore standout, Nick Chubbs.
The Yellow Jackets won the coin toss and elected to receive and went straight to work with a 5-play 55 yard drive and the opening score. The PAT was no good and the Yellow Jackets led 6-0. The Indians returned the favor after receiving the kick off with an 11-play, 64 yard drive capped off by a 6 yard touchdown pass from #12 Jamarious Mosteller to #4 Quintavious Knox. The failed PAT kick left the score tied at 6.
The Yellowjackets responded with a touchdown strike of their own as the Rockmart halfback took a pitch and went 70 yards to the end zone. The PAT kick was wide right and the score held at 12-6. On their next possession, the Indians responded with a 60 yard run from Knox who took only 2 more plays to find the end zone on the 2 yard dive. This time, Mosteller found Alex Meers on a short pass for the 1-point PAT conversion, putting the Indians on top 13-12.
The Indian defense finally found their footing with 3 minutes remaining in the half. On 3rd and long, the Yellow Jacket quarterback tried to roll out looking for a receiver only to be met by Indian defensive end, Quinton Perry. The hit shook the ball loose and Perry pounced on it for his team-leading 4th forced-fumble and 3rd fumble recovery. Poised to extend their lead and burn the clock, the Indians tried to catch Rockmart off guard by going to the air. Consecutive dropped passes instead left the Indians at the 50 yard line on 3rd and 10. Rockmart focused on #4 Knox and their guess was right as Knox was wrapped up in the back field for a 4 yard loss forcing a punt. Logan Cundiff #30 managed a 27 yard punt but the Rockmart tailback found a hole on the second play from scrimmage and went 65 yards for his second score and, this time, the PAT kick was good. The final minute before halftime was spent with the Indians trying to find their offense again as the clock wound down to zero. The 20-13 score left a bad taste for the Indians and, set to receive the opening kick off of the second half, adjustments on offense and defense we’re going to be needed to pull out a win.
The deep kickoff left the Indians starting at their own 27 yard line. Knox and Mosteller shared the load on the ground for the first few plays. EJ Lackey came in to give Knox a breather before Mosteller began going to the air. Finding Knox on the crossing route for 16 yards and then setting up the screen pass to #18 Perry for 24 yards, the Indians confused the Yellow Jacket defense enough to put together an impressive 73 yard, 14 play drive with Mosteller diving the final 2 yards into the end zone for an Indian touchdown. It was now up to the toe of defensive tackle and kicker, Luis Medina #25, whose PAT kick sailed through the uprights giving the Indians their first lead of the second half 21-20. Rockmart would have 2 more chances to score only to be met by #22 Baylor Wilson, #61 Isaiah Siffles and #20 Alex Meers. Wilson used his speed at nose guard to penetrate the Yellow Jacket line on every play of Rockmart’s final two possessions. His last tackle was the most important as Wilson forced the Yellow Jacket quarterback to fumble the ball and preserve the 21-20 Indian Victory.

Knox led all rushers with an astounding 23 carries for 145 yards and a touchdown. Knox added 3 catches for 37 yards and another touchdown. Mosteller picked up 15 yards rushing on 9 carries and a touchdown while completing 5 of 7 passes for 69 yards and another score.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
Rockmart	6	14	0	0	20
Chattooga	0	13	8	0	21

 

RUSHING:

Knox: 23 carries, 145 yards, 1 td  –  Meers: 2 carries, 3 yards –   Lackey: 2 carries, -1 yard –   Mosteller: 9 carries, 15 yards, 1 td

PASSING:

Mosteller: 7 attempts, 5 completions, 69 yards, 1 TD, (1 for 1 on PATs)

RECEIVING:

Meers: 1 catch for 12 yards, Knox: 3 catches for 37 yards & 1 TD, Perry: 1 catch for 24 yards