FORNEY, Texas — Last year’s Unity Bowl was one to forget for North Forney. Only, they didn’t forget it.
FORNEY, Texas — Last year’s Unity Bowl was one to forget for North Forney. Only, they didn’t forget it.
They remembered blowing a two-touchdown, 4th-quarter lead and losing to the Forney Jackrabbits. A loss that would seemingly have the Falcons trying to find their confidence and swagger all season long. This year, the Falcons made a Jackrabbit comeback impossible. North Forney would dominate their crosstown rival resulting in a final tally of 57-10. Leaving no doubt as to where their confidence and swagger is after the start of district play this year.
Typically, it’s the Falcon’s high flying (pun intended) offense that takes the headlines but make no mistake this victory was all about Goonville’s Defense. With the way the defense has started the season I think it’s time we give them their own nickname. I endorse “the Guardians of Goonville” but I’m open to suggestions. But enough with the “what?”, let’s get to the “why?”.
On the very first Jackrabbit offensive play the North Forney defense would show why they deserve their own nickname. While trying to setup a screen, Forney quarterback Campbell Anderson’s pass would be deflected into the air by Falcon’s defensive lineman Josh Anderson and land right into the hands of linebacker Ethan Monaco for the interception. After taking over at the Jackrabbits’ 18-yard line, the Falcons would score the first points of the game via a reverse pass to De’Juan Johnson. Zach Tucker who normally plays quarterback lined up at receiver before taking the pitch from LaMarcus Kirk, then throwing to a wide-open Johnson.
The next Jackrabbit possession would go exactly 3 plays for -9 yards before a punt. The drive would be blown up by tackles for loss by Akanimo “Nemo” Asuquo on one play and a host of Falcons on another. Following a North Forney fumble the defense would ball out once again allowing just 1 yard on the drive thanks in part to another tackle for loss credited to Roderick Brown and Ethan Monaco. That would later allow for Ty Collins (14 carries, 99 yards, 3 TD) to make up for his fumble by scoring on a run from 8 yards out to put the Falcons up 14-0.
The next offensive possession for the Jackrabbits would go 3 plays for -5 yards. With Brown recording another tackle for loss. Unfortunately, North Forney would turn the ball over on downs with their next possession.
The Jackrabbits would finally gain their first 1st down of the game with 1:56 left in the 1st quarter. They would gain 25 yards on 3 plays before Falcons linebacker DeMarcus Kirk would strip the ball away from the Forney running back with Brown scooping it up for the turnover close to midfield. The Falcons would use a 32-yard strike a couple plays later to Collyn Shipley to get down to the 1-yard line. Shipley would display tremendous hops along with amazing body control to bring down the contested pass. Jacob Soto (18 carries, 111 yards, 2 TD) would punch in the 1-yard touchdown run on the very next play and the Falcons led 22-0 after a successful 2-point conversion.
The Falcon’s defense would force yet another turnover by way of a strip and recovery, but this time the fumble would be returned 56 yards for the touchdown by Donovan Holt. Credit for the forced fumble goes to Tre Barksdale who was able to pry the ball away just before the Forney runner hit the ground.
The offense would then put the game out of reach for good with touchdowns on back to back drives capped off by a 9-yard touchdown run by Soto and a 15-yard touchdown run by Collins.
The Falcons would lead at halftime 43-0. At halftime the Jackrabbits offense would only have 25 yards of total offense and 1 first down. They also turned the ball over 3 times (1 INT, 2 Fumbles) and got turned over on downs another time.
In the 3rd quarter the Falcons defense would pick up where it left off by forcing another turnover on downs after 8 yards on 4 plays. The next Jackrabbits possession would actually fair worse. After only gaining 2 yards Forney would be forced to punt from their own endzone. Jewelz Demps would get past the line of blockers and get a hand on the punt. It would be picked up in the endzone by LaMarcus Kirk for another Falcons touchdown.
By the 5:18 mark in the 3rd quarter the Falcons had hung half a hundred on the Jackrabbits. It was 50-0. The Falcons had only allowed 33 yards of offense and forced 4 turnovers and 2 other turnovers on downs. They registered 9 tackles for loss. They had also allowed only 2 first downs up to that point as well. Utter domination is the only way to describe North Forney’s defensive performance on the night.
After that, North Forney would start to mix in their 2nd and 3rd team guys and Forney would finally get on the board to make it 50-7. Collins would add another Falcons rushing touchdown late from 6 yards out and Kolby Ortega would knock through a Jackrabbits field goal. The final score would be 57-10, North Forney.
Other Game Notes
Zach Tucker finished 7/14, 111 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT. North Forney Rushed for 238 yards on 46 carries and had 5 touchdowns on the ground. The defense allowed 164 yards total on the night and only 8 first downs. There were numerous defensive players who recorded tackles for loss including Akanimo “Nemo” Ausquo, Roderick Brown, DeMarcus Kirk, Ethan Monaco, Tre Barksdale, Taiven Lee, and Yaund’e Hurd. LaMarcus also recorded a sack on the night.
The Falcons move to 3-0 (1-0 district) on the year and will face the Ennis Lions 2-1 (1-0) on the road next Friday at 7:30pm. You can listen to the game on YouTube through SHN sports with the pregame show starting at 7:10pm.