Intense win for PCA against RTCA, 37-31

The Pinewood Christian Academy (PCA) Patriots travelled to Vidalia to go head-to-head with the Robert Toombs Christian Academy (RTCA) Crusaders on August 18. The boys in green and white fought hard and came out on top with a score of 37-31.

The Crusaders received the opening kickoff from PCA, and the runner was tackled by Lake Dasher. RTCA gained a first down from running the ball. John Marshall Headrick had strong tackles for PCA. After an incomplete pass, the Crusaders were forced to punt.

Ford Thompson received the ball at the 15 yard line for a Patriot first down. Collin Woolard ran the ball and gained 3 yards. Garlon Rogers carried the ball for 20 yards, which earned a first down for Pinewood. C. Woolard fumbled the ball, but Thompson recovered it and ran for a Patriot first down. C. Woolard steady gained yards for PCA while running the ball on the next few plays. G. Rogers ran the ball and earned a first down for Pinewood. On the next play, a flag was thrown for an illegal procedure which backed the Patriots up 5 yards. G. Rogers ran the ball for another Patriot first down. C. Woolard carried the ball for a gain of 7 yards. G. Rogers ran through the middle which gave PCA first and goal. Another flag was thrown which backed the Patriots up 5 yards. C. Woolard carried the ball into the end zone for the first touchdown (TD) of the game. The point after was successfully kicked by Caleb Conley, and the scoreboard read 7-0.

Robert Toombs received the kickoff at the 45 yard line. G. Rogers had a strong sack against the RTCA runner. A 15 yard penalty was called against the Crusaders which gave them a second down with 26 yards to go. On the next play another flag was thrown against RTCA which backed them up 5 more yards. The Crusaders threw a 13 yard pass. The timer ran out, first quarter ended with PCA in the lead by one TD.

Second Quarter

After having another long complete pass, a flag was thrown against PCA. Robert Toombs scored their first TD and tied the game with a successful kick for the extra point 7-7.

Dasher received the kickoff for the Patriots. C. Woolard had a ?? yard run. G. Rogers ran the ball for PCA putting them just one yard short of gaining a first down. A flag for a sideline warning was called against the Patriots. C. Woolard ran up the middle and earned a first down for Pinewood. Jeffrey Young ran the ball into the end zone, but PCA was called back because of a flag thrown against holding on the Patriots. C. Woolard and G. Rogers ran the ball a few times inching PCA closer to the goal line. Logan Lewis brought the ball across the goal line for a Patriot TD. Conley kicked the ball successfully through the uprights making the score 14-7.

The Robert Toombs Crusaders received the ball after the kickoff, but Luke Shuman sacked the runner. Sky Rogers, Eli Collins, and Dasher each had strong tackles against the Crusaders. A flag was called against RTCA for a 10 yard penalty. First and 20 yards to go, and another flag was called for an illegal procedure against the Crusaders. G. Rogers and Wade Durrence had strong tackles for PCA against RTCA. Pinewood had a flag for unsportsmanship like conduct. Dasher had a grand tackle against the receiver after a long pass. RTCA ran for a 14 yard TD and the kick was good which tied the score 14-14.

Woolard received the kick return and ran up the middle for a gain of 3 yards. G. Rogers gained 6 yards carrying the ball. Lewis through the middle for a small gain of yards, and a flag against RTCA for face masking was called which moved PCA up 15 yards. G. Rogers had another gain of 6 yards for PCA. Lewis ran the ball through the middle earning a Patriot first down. Young ran the ball and gained 8 yards for Pinewood. On the next play, PCA fumbled, and the Crusaders recovered the ball.

Rogers and Dasher stopped the runner with a strong group tackle. A flag for holding against RTCA was thrown which backed the Crusaders up 10 yards. C. Woolard intercepted the ball on the next play. Young threw a complete 50 yard pass to Thompson who went on to run into the end zone for another TD. The kick by Conley was good, and the scoreboard read 21-14.

The Crusaders dropped the ball following the kick return, Tim Stoner recovered the ball for the Patriots. Last play of the quarter was a incomplete pass to Dasher.

Third Quarter

Woolard received the kick return and gained over 15 yards for PCA. Lewis carried the ball for the next two plays and put the Patriots inside the 10 yard line. Conley kicked a 26 yard field goal which gave PCA 3 points. The score became 24-14.

After receiving the kick return, the RTCA runner was tackled by Ronnie Griffin. Dasher played hard defense and had several strong tackles against the Crusaders. Connor Kennedy fought hard on the defensive line and had several forceful blocks. Robert Toombs had a complete pass for a 4 yard TD. The kick was good for the points after, and the score became 24-21.

Dasher received the kick the ball for the kick return and earned PCA a first down with a strong run. Young on the carry for a loss of 4 yards. C. Woolard made up for lost ground and gained a Patriot first down. Turnover on downs after an incomplete pass was thrown to Lewis.

Durrence had a forceful tackle against the runner. RTCA threw a 75 yard pass complete for a TD. The point after was successfully kicked through the uprights, which made the score 24-28.

Dasher received the ball from the kick return and ran for a gain of several yards. Young ran the ball through the middle for a gain of 7 yards. G. Rogers earned the Patriot first down. As the time ticked down, Young ran the ball up the middle for a gain of 1 yard which ended the first half of the game.

Fourth Quarter

Rogers ran the ball to the 4 yard line and earned a first down for the Pinewood Patriots. On the next play, G. Rogers carried the ball across the goal line for a Patriot TD. Conley kicked the ball successfully through the uprights, and the scoreboard read 31-28.

RTCA received the kickoff, but a flag was thrown on the play. PCA was called for an illegal procedure which backed them up 5 yards. Griffin had a strong tackle against the Crusader. S. Rogers, Lewis, and Chap Shuman worked together to bring down the runner with intense tackles. Dasher ran down the runner after a 7 yard reception and tackled the Crusader with great strength. Young and G. Rogers double-teamed the RTCA ball carrier and brought him down with a forceful tackle. S. Rogers sacked the runner for a loss of one yard. The pass on the next play was broken up by Thompson. RTCA was forced to kick a 21 yard field goal, and it was successful which tied the game 31-31.

Dasher received the kick off and ran for a 7 yard gain. G. Rogers ran the ball but did not make enough yards for a first down. PCA was forced to punt.

RTCA caught the ball following the kick return, the receiver dropped the ball, and a flag was called on the play. RTCA was called back 15 yards for a backfield block. Thompson, S. Rogers, and Lewis brought the runner down after a 15 yard gain for RTCA. Kennedy, S. Rogers, and Headrick team-tackled the ball carrier for a loss of 6 yards. Headrick had a vigorous quarter back sack for a loss of 5 yards. Third down and 21 yards o go, RTCA passed the ball, but Lewis and Dasher blocked the pass. Robert Toombs was forced to punt.

Dasher received the ball on the 26 yard line. On the next play, PCA fumbled, but Aden Williams recovered the ball. Young threw a complete pass to Lewis for a gain of 10 yards. C. Woolard ran the ball for a Patriot first down. Young completed a pass to Lewis again, but a flag for a pass interference was called giving PCA a first down. Pressure was heavy on Young, and he was forced to throw out of bounds. Fourth down and 10 yards to go, Young goes for another pass, and Thompson caught the ball for a gain of 30 yards which gave Pinewood first and goal. C. Woolard broke the tie for a 7 yard run into the end zone. The kick after was not good, so the score became 37-31.

The kick return was short, and C. Woolard had a powerful sack against the receiver. 38.3 seconds remained on the clock as RTCA set up to run their plays. The Crusaders fumbled the ball on the next play, but they recovered. Time eventually ran out, and the Crusaders were unable to make it to the end zone. PCA won with an intense fourth quarter and a score of 37-31.

Star player, Collin Woolard, said that his favorite highlight of the game was making the winning touchdown right at the end of the game. Collin had a total of 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 8 receiving yards, 78 kickoff return yards, and 90 rushing yards. He is a senior this year and has been playing varsity football for all four of his high school career.

Show your Patriot Pride on August 25, in Savannah as PCA meets the Memorial Day School Matadors on the gridiron.

By: Lilly Dasher

Student Writer