Defense was clearly going to be a key ingredient in this match-up as we discussed in the breakdown and neither team disappointed - with both rush defenses and specifically Northern's replicating what they've done throughout the year when they've been in games. The Knights limited the Spartans to just over 3 YPC, while the Spartans limited the Knights to just over 4 YPC. Southern's scoring defense had been outstanding, including in their four wins where they were limiting teams to just 12 a game, and this was represented in prime time near the beginning of the fourth quarter with the Spartans down by six and the Knights on the two yard line getting ready to punch it in for a two score lead. Instead the quintessential bend-but-don't-break Spartan defense held strong to get the ball back on a turnover on downs, which set-up the game tying drive of the night.
Rush defense and how both teams were able to run was clearly an important element of the game and as expected both found the going tough on the ground due to strong defensive play from their opposition. In our breakdown we noted that because of the stellar play of the two defenses against the rush throughout the season, it would be how each team effectively used their passing game throughout the game that would make the most impact. Southern had shown more success in moving the ball through the air, but the Knights had shown they had been able to throw the ball when it counted in the red-zone with 16 scores on the year. On Friday night the balance tipped in favor of the Spartans because of their ability to use the pass effectively, while the Knights were unable to manage the status-quo that had been so successful for them in the past. Southern put up close to 200 yards in the air at a healthy +8 YPA and scored both of their scores through the passing game, while picking up a huge gainer to a running back out of the backfield that added significant momentum to their game tying drive after the defense had stopped the Knights at the goal line. On the flip side, the Knights capitalized in the second quarter through the air to take the early lead, but were unable to capitalize in the red zone in the fourth quarter when it mattered the most, and ended the game with a Southern interception in the end zone.
Going into the contest, both teams knew that they would receive automatic bids as top three finishers in the conference race, but clearly there was still much to be decided in order of finish. With Southern's victory the potential for uncertainty was amped up [Selection Saturday (1 Week) - PAC-6 Playoff Picture & More]. Southern concluded their regular season after rattling off five straight victories to finish 5-1 in PAC-6 play and 5-6 overall. They'll enter the playoffs as a 5-5 reportable record team (able to drop one of their non-conference losses) and will wait to see the result of Friday night's Hornet and Knight match-up to gain more clarity on their order of finish in the conference. Meanwhile, the PAC-6 regular season will conclude in a blockbuster at the newly renovated Durham County Memorial Stadium as the currently unbeaten Hornets travel to play the Knights on their senior night. A win by the Hornets and the order of finish will be easy, Hillside conference champs and the #1 seed, Southern #2 and Northern #3. If Northern is able to pull out the victory a three-way tie will be the order of the day and all will be officially named co-conference champs while we'll have to wait to find out the conference finish order based on a random draw.
What a way to end the regular season, the three top teams battling it out over the final two weeks. The following quotes are from the voices of the PAC-6 and were included in articles from the News and Observer and Herald-Sun. For more information on the game, follow the links provided at the end of the post.
There had been more than a little talk about the brutally tough schedule the Spartans undertook during their non-conference schedule and although there was clearly some method behind the madness, it was clear that the six straight losses, close or not, against a tough team or not, were still losses and had weighed heavy on the shoulders of Southern head coach Adrian Jones. With emotion after the game, he spoke about the regular season journey and the make-up of his team throughout.
"I'm just proud of these guys," Jones said. "The seniors stepped up tonight. I'm real emotional tonight. Those first six losses, we didn't know what to do. But they stuck together and we just fought." Jones went on to say "...and that's all I could ask from them."Looking at the pure numbers, the Spartan passing attack proved to be one of the central deciding factors of the game, but good teams also benefit from luck occasionally and still others would say that luck is simply the result of solid preparation. Whatever your perspective, junior wide receiver Darren Bullock hauled in the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter after the ball had been deflected off another player. Bullock commented on the catch and score and his perspective on handling the tough, but ultimately rewarding season.
"It just tipped off his shoulder and I just kept my eye on it," Bullock said. "I made a play on it and did it for the seniors. We've come a long way after starting 0-6. We had a tough schedule but coach did it so we'd be where we are now."The Spartans final score came with time remaining on the clock and the Knights took the ensuing kick-off back over 65 yards to set-up a final drive to tie or possibly win the game. But with time feverishly ticking away Northern's last chance was snatched away by senior defensive back Dashawn Harris. Harris commented on the huge play to close out the game.
"I looked at the quarterback and he threw it up and on my senior night I had to go out with a bang," Harris said. "It just felt good."Northern head coach Anthony Sullivan has seen his team go from a win less 2009 campaign to be considered one of the best teams in the PAC-6 in 2010 and in a position to still compete for a share of the conference championship. To many outside of Knight country, this would have been hyperbole to the extreme, whereas to those that are familiar with the steady changes that are being made it certainly wasn't out of the question. Good teams play in big games, because through their play over the season they create the possibility of big games, something Northern has accomplished through their play during 2010. Coach Sullivan commented on a hard fought game and a quick perspective on why things fell the Spartans way.
"It was a tough one and everyone in the PAC-6 knew this was going to be a good one," Sullivan said. "It came down to execution and four good quarters of football. We had our opportunities and shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times. They capitalized on some big plays and some big opportunities."News and Observer (article by Terry Hill)
Durham Herald-Sun (article by Joe Johnson)
No comments:
Post a Comment