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D.H. Conley’s Ashton Baker rips the ball away from a Cleveland receiver in mid air for an interception during the first quarter Friday.
D.H. Conley's Quazameke Cratch is lifted by Bryce Weaver after scoring the opening touchdown of Friday's game against Cleveland.
D.H. Conley's Josh Mills kicks a 31-yard field goal during the opening quarter of Friday's game against Cleveland.
D.H. Conley's student section celebrates after a big play during the third quarter of Friday's game against Cleveland.
D.H. Conley’s Ashton Baker rips the ball away from a Cleveland receiver in mid air for an interception during the first quarter Friday.
D.H. Conley's Quazameke Cratch is lifted by Bryce Weaver after scoring the opening touchdown of Friday's game against Cleveland.
D.H. Conley's Josh Mills kicks a 31-yard field goal during the opening quarter of Friday's game against Cleveland.
D.H. Conley's student section celebrates after a big play during the third quarter of Friday's game against Cleveland.
D.H. Conley got off to a hot start, leading 10-0 after the first quarter, but Cleveland responded in a big way in the middle quarters to power its way to a 34-23 road victory Friday night in high school football action.
In a battle of unbeatens, the Vikings set the tone in the early going, putting points on the board in each of their first two drives, but Cleveland then outscored the hosts 20-7 in the second quarter to take a 20-17 lead into the half to set the stage for the win.
“Hats of to Cleveland and coach (Scott) Riley, they have a great football team and they do a great job,” D.H. Conley head coach Nate Conner said. “I’m really proud of our boys. I think we’re gonna go back and look at a couple situations we’d love to have back, and I think the outcome of this game could be different.”
Conley received the opening kickoff, and it needed just four plays to march 50 yards, the capper being a 13-yard connection between Jason Herring and Quazameke Cratch just 1:34 into the game.
The passing game proved vital for the Vikings on their second drive, as Herring marched them down the field, starting the drive 5-for-6 for 38 yards, before the drive stalled on three consecutive incompletions.
In came Josh Mills, who split the uprights for a 31-yard field goal to put Conley ahead 10-0 with 3:30 remaining in the first quarter.
The Rams got on the board on a Carl Anthony Greene rushing score from four yards out 1:31 into the quarter, before Jackson Byrd and Jashawn Middleton connected for a 47-yard score in the middle portions of the quarter.
The score gave Cleveland a 13-10 lead, one it would not relinquish the remainder of the night.
On the away side’s next drive, it was Byrd producing a score once again, this time with his legs, as he sneaked inside the left pylon for a 15-yard score with 2:18 left in the opening half.
Conley responded in a big way on its ensuing drive, as Herring tracked down a bad snap before firing deep down field to Isaiah Crumpler, who made a pair of defenders miss on his way to a 59-yard touchdown.
The score trimmed the Rams’ lead to 20-17 heading into the locker room.
A lengthy Cleveland drive to open the second half eventually stalled before the Vikings went three-and-out deep inside their own territory and were forced to punt.
The Rams started their second drive of the quarter in plus territory at the 29, needing just four plays to find the end zone when Byrd connected with a diving Tristian Franks to stretch the lead back to 10.
Like it did late in the second quarter, Conley had a response once again when a Herring-to-Cooper Marcum connection went for 25 yards and set it up inside the 10.
Yah Dade-El then took a handoff up the gut and into the end zone, as a blocked extra-point left the score at 27-23 with 3:19 left in the third.
On the ensuing drive it was another time-consuming march down the field for Cleveland, as it went 65 yards in 12 plays, a drive that took the game into the fourth quarter.
A third-and-six play saw Byrd scramble to the near sideline, before cutting back to the middle and finding the end zone from 11 yards out to give the Rams a 34-23 edge just 17 seconds in to the fourth quarter.
Conley (2-1) looked to respond with a score of its own for the third time in as many drives, as it worked the ball into Cleveland territory. Then, on a second-and-four from the 37-yard line, Herring looked to find a receiver deep down field, but instead saw his pass intercepted by Isaac Piatek.
The Rams then used a 13-play drive to drain the clock down to 3:11 before eventually turning the ball over on downs just outside of the red zone.
Trailing by two scores in the closing minutes, the Vikings did not go down without a fight, as they worked their way down the field and into the red zone. Herring took a few shots into the end zone, but a bobbled snap on a fourth-and-goal play in the closing seconds put an end to any miracle comeback hopes as Cleveland closed out the 11-point victory.
“There’s a ton to build off of against a great football opponent,” Conner said. “I look forward as a coach to go back and evaluate what we can do to put our boys in a better position.”
The Rams finished the game with a 507-293 edge in total offense, including a 213-36 advantage in the ground game.
Herring went 22-for-37 through the air for Conley, passing for 257 yards and two touchdowns, as Crumpler led the way with 108 yards on six grabs, while Marcum caught seven passes for 59 yards.
D.H. Conley will visit Northern Nash next week in its final non-conference game of the year, before traveling to Northside-Jacksonville for its Big Carolina 3A/4A Conference opener Sept. 22.
Kinston rode big plays to stay in the game against the Chargers and eventually pull away in the second half for a comfortable win.
Ayden-Grifton tried to stay in the fight after seeing its 7-6 halftime edge and its momentum dissipate.
A 94-yard Jamear Flowers TD catch overturned put Kinston in the lead, 12-7, though A-G had a fast answer to take its second lead at 14-12 late in the third quarter.
But the Vikings weren’t done, squeezing in another TD before the end of the third to lead 20-14 heading into the final frame, which featured an Antwon Giggetts 93-yard scoring dash for a 26-14 Kinston lead.
The Vikings found the end zone again in the fourth to seal the deal.
The Pam Pack rallied to steal a late lead and hold on for a tight win which doomed the Falcons to an 0-4 start to the season.
The game was scoreless at halftime. South Central struck first, taking a 7-0 lead with 4:43 to play in the third quarter. Washington finally stirred to life in the fourth, however, driving home a pair of unanswered scores to claim the victory.
The Panthers were pegged back to 1-2 on the season in a convincing non-conference loss to Roanoke Rapids.
Further details were not available at press time.
The Jaguars remained winless this season after three chances.
Further details were not available at press time.
J.H. Rose continued its strong start to the season by sweeping visiting South Central 25-18, 25-16, 25-13 in a Big Carolina 3A/4A Conference clash Thursday.
Leading the way for the Falcons was Somer Davenport, who finished with 19 assists and 11 service points.
Freshman Brook Evans led South Central at the net with nine kills and four blocks.
J.H. Rose (9-1) visits Northside-Jacksonville Tuesday, while South Central (3-1) is back in action Tuesday at home when it takes on New Bern.
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