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Cards edge Houlka By BARRY BURLESON
Editor  | Photo by Ronnie Day
Cardinal ball-carrier
Javeon Allen (25) tries to escape a Wildcat’s grasp after taking the hand-off from Brantley Harris (6). |
One play stands out from the Potts Camp versus Houlka football game Thursday night. “I’m glad we practice the fake punt,” said Shane Stone, head coach of the Cardinals. In
a scoreless game and facing fourth and seven, he called for the fake
early in the fourth quarter. The ball was snapped directly to up-back
Zack Mayer, who threw to Jeremy Honor. The surprise play gained 26
yards to the Houlka 30. “It was a huge play for us,” Stone said. “We had not used it all year. We had been waiting for the right time.” After
the successful fake, Jamarquis Foster carried for 18 yards, Brantley
Harris threw to Randy Love for 7 yards and Foster scored on a 5-yard
run. The Cardinals, hosting the game at Byhalia High School, won 6-0 and improved to 4-2 on the season. “Both teams played extremely hard,” Coach Stone said. “It was a hard-fought game.” That
was obvious down to the last play. Houlka, trying to rally, launched a
pass toward the end zone, which Harris intercepted to secure the win. “Our
guys played with good effort,” Stone said. “For them to bow up like
that at the end, it’s obvious they’ve done some growing up this season.”  | Photo by Ronnie Day
Trying to escape
Jamarquis Foster (21) of Potts Camp fights for more yardage with a Wildcat wrapped around his legs. |
The
Cardinals had just two possessions in the first half. They punted on
their first one and failed to convert on a fourth and six on their
other. They had moved inside the Houlka 10 on the latter possession,
thanks to a 36-yard strike from Harris to a leaping Foster. A
roughing the kicker flag on Potts Camp helped Houlka keep the ball for
the next 24 plays. Then the the Wildcats tried a 26-yard field goal
with 47 seconds left in the first half. Potts Camp’s Jason Neal blocked
it to keep the game scoreless. The second half opened with three punts before Potts Camp embarked on what proved to be the game-winning drive. The Cardinal defense stopped the Wildcats on a fourth and 13 at midfield near the 2:00 mark of the fourth. Potts
Camp’s ensuing possession lasted just three plays with Houlka using its
timeouts effectively. The Wildcats got the ball back for the last-ditch
effort that failed. Stone praised his team’s
defensive effort – particularly in the second half. Leading the
defensive attack were Corinthian Echols, Love and Neal. On
offense, Harris was eight of 12 passing for 112 yards. Foster was the
team’s leading rusher. He had nine carries for 40 yards. “It was truly a team effort,” Coach Stone said. He
also thanked Byhalia High School and coach Markeith Washington for the
use of the BHS stadium. It was Potts Camp’s only “home game” of the
season since its field is not yet completed. The
Cardinals play at Coldwater next Monday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. before
closing the season Thursday, Oct. 21, versus Jumpertown at Thrasher.
Game-time for that one is also 7 p.m. |
