North Forney Falcons clinch first Unity Bowl victory, 49-19

Published: November 11, 2017
North Forney Falcons clinch first Unity Bowl victory, 49-19

FORNEY, Texas — The North Forney High School Falcons (8-2, 5-2) clinched their first Unity Bowl victory over the Forney High School Jackrabbits (2-8, 1-6) Friday night at City Bank Stadium.

FORNEY, Texas — The North Forney High School Falcons (8-2, 5-2) clinched their first Unity Bowl victory over the Forney High School Jackrabbits (2-8, 1-6) Friday night at City Bank Stadium.

The Falcons built a 42-12 halftime lead and, after trading touchdowns in the 3rd quarter, finalized the scoring at 49-19.

Last week, North Forney clinched a playoff berth with a 50-44 win over West Mesquite, their first-ever 5A playoff appearance. They are scheduled for a bi-district matchup against Longview Pine Tree in the first round of the playoffs. Game is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 17, 2017, at Athens High School.

North Forney struck first on their first drive with just over two minutes in the game. North Forney quarterback Colby Suits, a University of Louisiana at Monroe commit, connected with Corey Mayfield on a 41-yard touchdown pass. Suits kept the ball for an extra two points on the attempt.

Forney QB Devon Rideaux contested, connecting with Sean Stephens on an 18-yard touchdown pass some 4 minutes later, a two-point conversion failed.

The Falcons finalized the scoring in the first quarter with a Suits 21-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Barrall.

The second quarter began with four uncontested Falcon touchdowns, in a matter of 5 minutes, with a Suits 1-yard rushing touchdown, a Suits handoff to Jordan Carroll for a 14-yard pass back to Suits for a touchdown, Suits connecting with Carroll on a 39-yard touchdown pass, and again for another Suits-Carroll 35-yard touchdown pass.

With 4 seconds remaining on the half, Rideax connected with Sean Stephens on a 40-yard touchdown pass for the Jackrabbits. The Falcons intercepted the two-point conversion attempt and nearly scored on the remaining 4 seconds after two penalties cost the Jackrabbits 30 yards and the ejection of their starting quarterback.

The Falcons chose a grounded offense in the second half and pulled some starters in preparation for the playoff road ahead.

The final two touchdowns of the matchup came in the 3rd quarter with Forney’s Campbell Anderson connection an 18-yard pass to Austin Ream and North Forney’s Calvin Ribera sealing a Falcon drive on a 14-yard rushing touchdown.

The Falcons amassed 522 total yards compared to 306 for the Jackrabbits. Suits passed for 281 yards and 4 touchdowns with Carroll passing for 14 and a touchdown. Rideaux passed for 141 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Campbell threw for 69 yards and a touchdown.

Calvin Ribera and Jacob Soto led the Falcons rushing efforts with 87 yards each. Nate Miller accumulated 31 yards, Suits with 17, and Corey Mayfield with 5. For the Jackrabbits, Rideaux clocked 42 yards, Austin Ream with 34, Caleb Bolin with 9, Anderson with 5, Stephens with 4, and Aaron Rideaux with 2.

Carroll caught three passes for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns for the Falcons. Ennels caught 2 for 63 yards, Mayfield caught for 41 yards and a touchdown, Barrall for 39 yards and a touchdown, Barclay Ford for 26 yards, and Suits for 14 yards and a touchdown. For the Jackrabbits, Stephens caught for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns, Bolin for 43 yards, Ream for 30 yards and a touchdown, Aaron Rideaux for 18 yards, and Peyton Johnson for 12 yards.

The Unity Bowl record stands with Forney — 5, North Forney — 1.

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