Back 
Hey wait a minute, I thought Lakeside wouldn't lose this year and was loaded with "talent". Nice rushing yardage.
Troy Griffith could have run it or thrown it in.
He did neither, and Evans was facing the one play that would decide if its Region 3-AAAA opener with Lakeside.
The Knights had two choices: hand it to their game-changing back or place the game's outcome into the hands of Griffith, a first-year starting quarterback. They choose the latter and were rewarded.
Griffith whistled a perfect spiral 7 yards into the arms of Brandon McCladdie for the decisive score in Evans' 19-15 win over visiting Lakeside. The pass came on third-and-goal with 39.5 seconds remaining and one play after Griffith had rolled right and misfired to an open receiver.
Evans (2-0), which failed to score or move the ball in the first half, trailed by nine points early but came alive by scoring touchdowns on its first two plays of the second half, when Jonathan Finch raced 65 and 37 yards.
"We couldn't do anything right (in the first half), because they had a great defensive game plan," Evans coach Marty Jackson said. "We always believe we can win."
Lakeside, which was shut out in three of its final six games last year, led 9-0 and 15-12 but couldn't make the lead stand even though it held it right down to the final seconds.
Evans, trailing by three points, took over at its 31-yard line with 3:57 to play. A roughing-the-passer call -- the biggest penalty on a night when the teams combined to commit 22 of them -- allowed the Knights to convert a key third down, and Griffith seemed to gain confidence for the first time. He completed three consecutive passes before Finch ran 20 yards on an option down to the 7-yard line. A Finch run for no gain and one incompletion later, Evans called timeout.
"I didn't lose my confidence at all after that bad throw ... it was just a matter of putting the ball in the right spot," said Griffith, who finished 13-for-20 for 119 yards and his first career TD pass.
Lakeside scored on 46-yard and 34-yard passes from Chad Chandler to Levi Hanks. Hanks caught the second midway through the third period by out-leaping a defender in the end zone on third-and-9. Chandler was 8-for-13 for 73 yards in the first half. The Panthers, who were without coach Jody Grooms, who was serving a two-game suspension for calling an illegal play in last season's final game, finished with negative-19 yards rushing.
"They had a pretty good pass rush, but I'm disappointed in myself," Chandler said. "I was stepping up in the pocket too soon."
Reach Matt Middleton at (706) 823-3425 or matt.middleton@augustachronicle.com.
EVANS 19, LAKESIDE 15
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Evans running back Jonathan Finch ran for touchdowns on his first two carries of the second half (65, 37 yards) to give Evans its first lead and change the game's momentum.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Evans QB Troy Griffith tossed a 7-yard scoring pass to Brandon McCladdie with 39.5 seconds left on third-and-goal from the 7-yard line.
WHY LAKESIDE LOST: The Panthers struck for two big passing plays but couldn't consistently moved the ball. They netted negative-19 yards rushing.
WHY EVANS WON: The Knights drove 69 yards down the field for the winning score when they needed to and got another sensational game from Finch.
NEXT: Lakeside is at Greenbrier; Evans is off.
EVANS 19, LAKESIDE 15
Lakeside 0 9 6 0 -- 15
Evans 0 0 12 7 -- 19
Second Quarter
L--Safety; Evans snapped ball over punter's head, 11:40.
L--Levi Hanks 46 pass from Chad Chandler (Michael Combs kick), 9:57.
Third Quarter
E--Jonathan Finch 65 run (kick failed), 11:47.
E--Jonathan Finch 37 run (kick failed), 9:15.
L--Levi Hanks 34 pass from Chad Chandler (pass failed), 4:27.
Fourth Quarter
E--Brandon McCladdie 7 pass from Troy Griffith (Jamie Galvin kick), 39.5
L E
First Downs 8 11
Rushes-Yards 22-(-19) 29-127
Passing Yards 140 119
Comp.-Att.-Int. 13-21-1 13-21-0
Fumbles-Lost 4-2 2-1
Punts-Avg 5-38.6 7-33.4
Penalties-Yards 9-75 13-110
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Lakeside: Michael Paul 5-6, Chad Chandler 13-(-26), Jay Grant 1-5, C.J. Marshall 2-(-8) Chris Hartfield 1-4. Evans: Jonathan Finch 17-142, Hector Mallar 2-0, Jamerson Turner 3-10, Tevin Nelson 1-5, Glenn Cassidy 1-(-3), Troy Griffith 5-(-27).
PASSING--Lakeside: Chandler 13-21-1 140. Evans: Griffith 13-20-0 119, Glenn Cassidy 0-1-0 0.
RECEIVING--Lakeside: Levi Hanks 7-99, Paul 1-6, Rosbie Mutcherson 2-8, C.J. Marshall 1-0, Matt Kolar 1-11, Kevin Hennecken 1-16. Evans: Tevin Nelson 5-47, Josh Butler 1-2, McCladdie 6-35, Finch 1-28, Jamerson Turner 1-7.
Comments
Hey wait a minute, I thought Lakeside wouldn't lose this year and was loaded with "talent". Nice rushing yardage.
Why is the Knight defense never given any credit in any article that you write? The Evan's defense is awesome. We had 2 sacs, multiple tackles by Felton #48 and multiple tackles behind the line by Charles #46. Our defensive line and linebackers deserve some recognition, but never seem to get it. Our defense took the steam out of the Lakeside offense in the third quarter and shifted the momentum to the Evan's side!
Anyway, awesome game! Go Knights !!!
Considering that LHS was on top most the night, I don't think the article gives us much credit either. I am a LHS Mom and I will give credit to #46. His pass rush, particularly in the 3rd quarter was intense. He did his job and it hurt our momentum. Kudos!
why was jody grooms allowed to be at the Greenbrier game if he was suspended?
LHS has not played Greenbrier yet ! Jody can attend any game he wants, just like you or me. He simply can't coach / be on the field for the first two. Don't try to make something out of nothing.
outside looking in - GET A LIFE and move on.
The guy lied about only running the play once. He has been suspended from coaching for two games which should also include scouting. Scouting is a part of coaching. you Lakeside people will always be the same . . . look at the character of what you are defending.
can't a man take his son to a football game. there are more inportant issues than a football game. this game was on of the worest officating game i have ever seen. these ref need to go study the rule book.
If you want to complain about the officials, also complain about the person running the time clock. Not starting the clock on several plays in the 4th quarter could have impacted the outcome of the game. I don't say that to take anything away from Evans, as a win is a win but since the subject has come up twice here already........... let's just acknowledge that there were a few opportunities for improvement related to the adults in charge.
LHS Yall pay how much to be a booster? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
