By Don Rowe
Special to The Dispatch
ABERDEEN – The KISS principle, a widely used acronym for “Keep it simple, stupid,” states that most systems work best if you don’t complicate things.
Over the years, one variant of the popular acronym was “Keep it simple and straightforward,” and that particular version of the KISS principle is best exemplified in Shannon’s 21-20 win over Aberdeen here Friday evening as the Red Raiders racked up 281 yards on the ground – the majority of which came straight up the middle between the tackles.
“You don’t necessarily have to have spectacular plays to win ball games,” said fourth-year Shannon head coach Darryl Carter in obvious reference to Aberdeen’s big-play offense. “Normally, we are a multi-set offense and when we tried to run the spread, it didn’t work.
“So then you have to take what the defense gives you. It was a simple plan and there were no secrets to its success.”
Running behind a big offensive line, 295-lb. junior Vincent McIntosh and freshman Thailon Whitfield combined for all 281 yards on the ground, including two touchdowns.
“They were a lot bigger than us up front and they just played smash-mouth football,” said first-year Aberdeen head coach Eric Spann.
Conversely, Aberdeen’s quick-strike offense never got untracked and its failure to shine was due to a lack of a rushing attack which generated only 17 yards on 20 carries.
“We just couldn’t run the ball,” said Spann. “When you make too many mistakes and you can’t run the ball against a 5-man box, people do things to you and it doesn’t usually turn out well. As a result, we never could find our rhythm.”
The Red Raiders’ win was their third this season and matched last year’s win total. Too, with the win, Shannon also achieved another milestone, according to senior RB/LB Tyshun Cooper.
“This is my fourth year to play for coach Carter and it’s the first time we’ve won back-to-back games,” said Cooper.
For Aberdeen (3-3), Friday’s loss was their second straight setback and their second this season by a 21-20 count.
Despite an overall lack of offense, the Bulldogs owned a 14-7 halftime lead but were outscored 14-6 in the second half.
Down by seven points midway through the third quarter, the Red Raiders mounted a 9-play, 86-yard drive capped by a 32-yard jaunt by McIntosh on which he ran over several Aberdeen tacklers before carrying several more into the end zone. Six of the nine plays in the drive went for more than six yards, only two of which were pass completions for 13 total yards.
Shannon’s point-after kick failed, however, leaving the host Bulldogs up by a point (14-13) with 3:51 left in the third period.
On their first possession of the fourth quarter, the Red Raiders put together a second 86 yard drive, again capped by a McIntosh touchdown – this one a 2-yard plunge on a 4th-and-goal. As was the case on the first 86-yard march, McIntosh and Whitfield accounted for the majority of the yardage – 63 yards on nine carries – and the 11-play drive was kept alive by a personal foul penalty, a face mask infraction and an offsides call on the Bulldogs.
Operating out of the Wildcat formation, Quan Phelps tacked on the 2-point conversion for what proved to be the winning points and a 21-14 lead with 7:24 left in the game.
As has been the case in all six of Aberdeen’s games this season, the Bulldogs gave the fans their money’s worth when Tramonte Prather connected with Dorian Fears on a 78-yard catch-and run less than a minute later to pull the Dogs to within a point of a tie. But a blitzing Red Raider defense squashed Aberdeen’s 2-point try to preserve the one-point lead.
Sticking to the ground game in an effort to milk the clock, Shannon ran the clock down to just under three minutes but was forced to punt on a fourth-and 22 from its own 40. Sophomore Bart Thompkins then came up with the play of the game, a booming 55-yard punt which was downed on the Aberdeen 5-yard line.
Looking to mount another patented late-game comeback, Aberdeen’s hopes apparently were dashed one play later when linebacker J.T. Loving picked Prather at the Bulldog 28 with 2:43 left to play.
But, helped by a holding call against the Red Raiders, Aberdeen’s defense gave its offensive teammates on last shot at a miracle with 25 seconds left. The late-game heroics were not to be though, as the Dogs reached the Shannon 25 before a fumble ended the threat at the buzzer.
Neither team scored in the first quarter, but Shannon managed to dent the scoreboard midway through the second period when freshman quarterback Jordan Gilleylen found wide receiver Tyler Floyd on a slant pattern good for 38 yards.
Thompkins PAT kick gave the Red Raiders a 7-0 lead with 6:35 left before the half.
The Dogs missed out on a potential scoring opportunity on their ensuing possession when Jerrick Orr fumbled on a fourth-and-two from the Shannon 24-yard line, but Shannon gambled on a fourth-down play at its own 42 minutes later and Tay Carothers dropped Gilleylen for a 3-yard loss.
Nine seconds later, Aberdeen owned an 8-7 lead thanks to a 39-yard Prather to B.J. Williams TD pass and a Donte Carter 2-point conversion run.
Buoyed by its first lead of the game, Aberdeen electrified the crown 45 seconds later when Carothers picked off a Gilleylen pass attempt and sprinted 20 yards for a touchdown and a 14-7 halftime lead.
“Defensively, we fought hard and thought if we could hold them to 21 points, we could win,” said Spann. “But we couldn’t get our run game going and it hurt us offensively.”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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