Defense key in Cardinals’ win


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The South Reporter

Defense key in Cardinals’ win

By BARRY BURLESON
Editor

Potts Camp relished the role of spoiler Friday night.

Not only did the Cardinals deal Strayhorn its first loss of the season but they did it on the Mustangs’ homecoming. The final score was 18-7.

Potts Camp improved to 2-1. Strayhorn fell to 3-1.

“They (the Mustangs) were pumped up with a huge crowd,” said Shane Stone, head coach of the Cardinals. “Our guys stepped up to the challenge.

“It was a business trip, and we took care of business. I’m proud of our team.”

He was particularly proud of the defense, a unit which he said played “very, very well.”

The game plan defensively was focused on Strayhorn star runner Greg Caston.

“We played eight guys close to the line of scrimmage,” Stone said. “We wanted to make them throw the ball.

“Coach Mike Bush (Potts Camp’s defensive coordinator) had a great plan, and our guys executed it well.”

Caston’s yardage was limited.

“We held him in check,” Stone said. “We did a great job on him.”

The star for Potts Camp on defense was Jamarquis Foster, and his offensive production was just fine, too.

The senior had 15 tackles, six of those for loss, and he caused two fumbles. He also carried the football 11 times for 104 yards and scored all three Potts Camp touchdowns.

“As good a game as he had on offense, he had an even better game on defense,” Stone said “He was outstanding.”

Foster gave the Cardinals a 6-0 lead in the first quarter on a 2-yard scoring run.

Potts Camp started the second half with an unsuccessful onside kick.

Strayhorn took advantage of the short field to go ahead. The touchdown came on a 15-yard run and the extra-point kick was good.

But the lead was short-lived. On the first play of Potts Camp’s next possession, Foster took an option toss from quarterback Jordon Harris and raced 64 yards for the touchdown.

The Cardinal defense rose to the occasion one last time, stuffing the Mustangs on a fourth and one in Potts Camp territory.

Then Foster put the icing on the winning cake with a 16-yard carry to the end zone in the fourth quarter.

Potts Camp failed all of its extra-point tries in the victory.

“It was a very physical game,” Coach Stone said. “There were some licks passed by both teams.

“Offensively, we sputtered at times. We just couldn’t get any rhythm going.”

He said the bye week leading up to the Strayhorn game could have been the reason for his offense being “a little rusty.”

Stone was particularly disappointed in his team’s air attack.

“We did not get it done in the passing game,” he said.

In addition to Foster, Jordon Harris also had more than 100 yards on the ground. He kept the ball 11 times for 115 yards.

“You have to give those guys up front (the offensive linemen) credit,” he said. “It takes everybody - the linemen and also the running backs seeing the holes.”

Next up, the Cardinals face Mantachie this Friday, the first of four straight home games.

“Mantachie will be a tough opponent,” Stone said. “They beat us last year (26-16).”

The next three home games are versus Rossville (Tenn.) Academy, Middleton, Tenn., and Immanuel Christian (homecoming).

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