By Don Rowe
Special to The Dispatch
CALEDONIA — Most football coaches will agree that not giving up the “big play,” field position, finishing drives and turnovers all play important roles in determining who wins and who loses.
That was certainly the case Friday evening when all four factors figured into Shannon’s season-opening 36-27 win over Caledonia.
For openers, sophomore quarterback Jordan Gilleylen staked the Red Raiders to a 21-7 lead midway through the second quarter with three touchdown passes, two of which covered 64 and 67 yards.
Down by 14, Caledonia rallied to score 20 unanswered points for a 27-21 advantage heading into the fourth quarter, but the Confederates had excellent field possession either at midfield or in Red Raider territory six times in the second half and came away with one touchdown and an extra point to miss out on the opportunity to put the Red Raiders away for good.
As far as finishing drives was concerned, a high snap on a field goal attempt cost Caledonia a possible three points, a fourth-down quarterback sneak fell a foot short at midfield and several dropped passes which would have garnered first downs and extended drives brought out the punting team.
Turnovers also weighed heavily on Caledonia as a fumbled snap was recovered by Shannon at the Red Raider 33 in the second quarter and an end zone interception late in the fourth quarter cost the ‘Feds a possible touchdown. Muffed snaps on several different drives also caused Caledonia to miss out on several first down opportunities.
“We played hard and had our chances to put Shannon away there in the third and fourth quarters, but we didn’t take advantage of those opportunities,” said Caledonia head coach Andy Crotwell. “It seemed like we spent the entire third quarter in their territory, and when you don’t take advantage of those opportunities when they are presented to you against a well-coached team like Shannon, it’s tough to win.”
The game started on a positive note for the Confederates with Jamel Thomas’ 27-yard kickoff return, followed by a 25-yard Spencer Unruh to Graham Weseli pass completion and a 21-yard scamper by Zion Ford, set up Unruh’s 1-yard sneak. Caleb Comer’s extra point gave Caledonia a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the contest.
Five plays and a minute and a half later, Shannon tied the score at 7 when Gilleylen hooked up with Ellis Fields on a 64-yard touchdown pass and Bart Tompkins added the point after.
Early in the second period, Gilleylen capped a 42-yard, four-play march with a 22-yard touchdown toss to tight end Bobby Vines, but the point after snap was fumbled.
On Caledonia’s ensuing possession, Shannon recovered a high snap from center at its own 33 and it took but one play for the Red Raiders to extend their lead to 21-7 when Kenneth Bell hauled in a Gilleylen pass and streaked 67 yards for the score. Keegan Huddleston’s 2-point conversion run put Caledonia at a 21-7 disadvantage.
Undaunted, the Confederates cut the deficit to seven points (21-14) just over a minute later when Unruh hit Thomas on a 52-yard scoring play, followed by Comer’s point after kick.
A Will Burton over-the-shoulder interception a minute later gave Caledonia the ball at its own 35 and six rushes by Ford set up a 25-yard Unruh to Thomas TD pass to make it a 21-20 contest with 1 :08 left in the second quarter. A botched snap on the point after cost Caledonia the chance to go into the locker room tied at the half, however.
Burton’s second interception and 20-yard return on the third play of the third quarter set the ‘Feds up at midfield. But a 28-yard Ford jaunt to the Red Raider 22 one play later was wiped out on a holding penalty and the untimely penalty cost Caledonia a chance to regain the lead.
The Confederate defense forced a Shannon punt on the visitor’s next possession and Caledonia’s offense responded with a 7-play, 49-yard march on the ground, six of which were runs by Ford-the last of which covered 7 yards for the score. Comer’s point after then gave the ‘Feds a 27-21 cushion going into the fourth period.
Looking to avenge last year’s 24-19 setback at Shannon, the Red Raiders scored on their first two possessions of the fourth quarter. First came a 1-yard plunge by Huddleston followed by Comer’s point after kick with under 10 minutes left. Then on an 11-yard run and 2-point conversion by 6-foot-1, 295-pound Vincent Mcintosh with 4:29 to play after Unruh was stopped a foot short of a first on a fourth -and-1 at the Shannon 48 minutes earlier.
“It was a gut-check type of game,” said Shannon coach Darryl Carter, “and I’m proud for our team because they fought hard throughout the entire game. It wasn’t a pretty win, but we got the job done.
“We got some breaks there at the end, we executed when we had to and capitalized on what was given to us by a very good football team,” said Carter, who in addition to gaining some measure of revenge for last year’s loss, watched with glee as his team serenaded his daughter Kinslee on her 8th birthday following the game.
Caledonia missed out on two opportunities to take the lead with just under four minutes to play when Cameron Buck picked off an Unruh pass in the Red Raider end zone and a high center snap cost Comer a shot at a 39-yard field goal.
Individually, Crotwell praised the play of defensive ends Jacob Sudduth and T.J. Davis, along with offensive stars Unruh, who was 17-for-31 for 209 yards, and Ford, who had 135 yards rushing on 25 carries.
“Jacob (Sudduth) and T.J. (Davis) played really well defensively, while Spencer (Unruh) had a good night throwing and Ford ran the ball hard,” Crotwell said.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.