Evans coach Marty Jackson watched all night Friday as Grovetown's defensive backs helped out in stopping the run.
He waited for the right opportunity, then took full advantage.
The Knights scored the go-ahead touchdown on a perfectly executed halfback pass from Myles McDavid to fellow senior Trevor Foreman, then held off the Warriors for a 23-19 victory in a roller-coaster affair at Blanchard Stadium.
"They were flowing like crazy every time we ran the option or the sweep to the wide side. They're a fast-flow defense, a really good defense," Jackson said. "If they bone up to stop the run, you're going to have the halfback pass."
McDavid, a receiver with experience at quarterback, took a pitch from Glenn Cassedy and went left, then loaded up his left arm, throwing a pass to a wide open Foreman for the 57-yard score.
"We had done it in practice, worked on it in practice, so I felt really comfortable with it," said McDavid, who transferred from Grovetown to Evans over the summer. "They left it wide open, and I had to take the opportunity."
McDavid also scored on an 84-yard kickoff return for touchdown at the end of the first quarter to put Evans up 13-12, a lead that would stick until halftime.
An athletic play from Grovetown quarterback Xavier Crain gave the Warriors (0-2) a three-point lead with 8:48 remaining. He took a quarterback draw up the middle and turned to the right side, then produced a stop-and-go move that left the safety hanging on a 46-yard touchdown.
The Knights (2-0) responded 61 seconds later with the winning score.
The story in the first half was big plays on both sides.
For Grovetown, sophomore Jamal Cummings ran up the middle for 71 yards on the Warriors' second possession. That led one of senior D.J. Tyson's two rushing scores in the first quarter.
Cummings finished with 122 yards on 11 carries.
"You've got to love Jamal, stepping in there at fullback a little bit," Grovetown coach Rodney Holder said. "I think he might've shown us a little something there. Having him and D.J. on the field at the same time, along with some of those other guys, gives us some opportunities."
For Evans, senior Will Scott took a first-quarter pass from Cassedy and went 60 yards for the Knights' first score.
Cassedy was two dropped passes away from being perfect through the air. He finished 7 for 9 for 93 yards and added 44 yards on the ground.
Neither team turned the ball over, and the total yardage was nearly equal: Grovetown 281, Evans 279.
JIM BLAYLOCK/STAFF
Grovetown's Byron Phillips is brought down by Evans' William Crow during the Knights' victory. \nEvans' Glenn Cassedy is persued by Grovetown's C.J. Cooper in the second quarter. Cassedy was 7 of 9 passing for 93 yards.
See 25 photos from the Evans-Grovetown game at spotted.augusta.com.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Evans' Myles McDavid completed a halfback pass for 57 yards to a wide open Trevor Foreman for the game-winning score.
STAR OF THE GAME: McDavid threw the touchdown pass and scored on an 84-yard kickoff return.
WHY EVANS WON: The Knights adjusted after halftime on defense, limiting Grovetown to two second-half first downs.
WHY GROVETOWN LOST: The Warriors allowed one too many big plays and saw Evans run the final 5:41 off the clock on a 10-play drive.
NEXT: Cross Creek at Grovetown, Sept. 17; Glenn Hills at Evans, Friday.
Grovetown 12 0 0 7 -- 19
Evans 13 0 0 10 -- 23
First Quarter
G--D.J. Tyson 6 run (kick failed), 7:28
E--Will Scott 60 pass from Glenn Cassedy (kick failed), 4:49
G--Tyson 3 run (pass failed), 0:22
E--Myles McDavid 84 kickoff return (Jamie Galvin kick), 0:09
Fourth Quarter
E--Galvin 28 FG, 10:05
G--Xavier Crain 46 run (Corey Stone kick), 8:48
E--Trevor Foreman 57 pass from McDavid (Galvin kick), 7:47
| G | E | |
| First Downs | 9 | 10 |
| Rushes-Yards | 33-216 | 32-129 |
| Passing Yards | 65 | 150 |
| Comp.-Att.-Int. | 4-10-0 | 8-10-0 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Punts-Yards | 4-39.3 | 2-32.0 |
| Penalties-Yards | 6-50 | 8-50 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Grovetown: Jamal Cummings 11-122, Crain 10-75, Tyson 10-12, Travon Biggers 1-4, Mickey Exum 1-3. Evans: Jamerson Turner 14-52, Glenn Cassedy 13-44, Will Scott 5-33.
PASSING--Grovetown: Crain 4-10-0 65. Evans: Cassedy 7-9-0 93, McDavid 1-1-0 57.
RECEIVING--Grovetown: Tyson 2-45, Byron Phillips 1-14, Biggers 1-6. Evans: Foreman 3-72, Scott 1-60, Blake Lane 1-21, Michael Gaines 1-4, Turner 1-(-4).
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
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