The varsity football team (2-0) turned in a dominant performance Friday night, cruising past Northpoint Christian (MS) (0-2) with a balanced offensive attack and a defense that forced five turnovers. The Owls dominated time of possession, holding the ball for almost 35 minutes and limiting the Trojans to only 23 offensive plays.
Quarterback Maddox Giel played very well as he accounted for three touchdowns. He opened the scoring with a 9-yard run to complete an 8-play, 29-yard drive that started when Northpoint fumbled on their first play from scrimmage and Tanner Sherman recovered, setting the Owls up. Then, early in the second quarter, Giel added a 4-yard rushing score following another fumble recovery, caused by Kendon Leakes and recovered by Sam Galler. Giel's run capped the 3-play, 18-yard drive to double the lead following the Joshua Wittber PAT.
Giel added a third touchdown just 3:24 later, this time with a pass as he found sophomore Thomas Higginbotham on 3rd and goal from 4-yards out, Higginbotham's first varsity scoring reception.
The Owls scored once more before halftime as RB Tommie Reed burst up the middle from 11 yards out for his first varsity touchdown to complete the 8-play, 57-yard drive that took up 4:10. On the drive, QB Price Renovich went 4-5 passing for 39 yards, and he also added a 10-yard scramble to set up Reed's gallop. The Owls led, 28-0, at the break.
Getting the ball to start the third quarter, the visitors immediately looked to get a running clock, and they did just that. Senior Gavin Gatere ended the opening 6-play drive with the final 4 runs, culminated by a 5-yard scoring romp. Wittber's extra point gave the Owls a 35-0 lead, and the clock rolled.
From this point, many reserves got action. The Owls added one final score as Finn Church connected on a 19-yard field goal with 8:25 left in the game, ending a 12-play, 64-yard drive that took up 11:05.
In addition to Sherman and Galler, Dylan Taylor, Austin Spence, and Ari Madasu all recovered fumbles. And forced fumbles were caused by Leakes, Jackson Hood, Reid McKnett, and Anders Trammell. And Spence led the team in tackles, tallying 7 stops.
With the win, the Owls improve their series lead over Northpoint, formerly SBEC, to 5-0.
Great Win!
#GoOwlsÂ
