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The battle for the Rutherford County title belongs to East Rutherford (3-2, 1-0) for the moment.
The Cavs jumped out to a 21-6 halftime lead on the Hilltoppers and never really looked back. Donald Wilkins made the two biggest plays of the game, but the interception for a touchdown in the first half really set off the chain of events that would transpire in East Rutherford’s 42-26 win.
Jamon Edgerton also had over 100 yards rushing and T.J. Watkins was solid at quarterback again this week. It looks like East has things finally coming together after a dismal two weeks in the beginning.
They have won three in a row and will travel to Patton, who has lost 21 straight contests.
R-S Central’s best assets are that they continue to fight and that Devante Austin is provided room to run.
Central cut the deficit to seven points in the second half, but Austin’s 170-plus yards rushing just wasn’t enough to overcome the Cavs. Round two of the inner-county battle travels to R-S Central (1-4, 0-1) who will host Chase on Friday.
Across town, Chase (3-2, 1-0) took care of Patton, but barely as Omar Jimenez kicked a game-winning field goal in the late stages for a 10-7 win. Defensively, the Trojans played its best football overall by allowing just 104 yards of Patton offense, thanks to defensive ends Shevon Logan and Tray Watkins. Josh Wright was the only Trojan to score as he went 136 yards rushing on the evening.
Going east of Chase High lives Thomas Jefferson football. And for the fifth time this season, the Gryphons come out winners beating Mitchell 27-6 at home. Despite being without running back and linebacker, Will McCraw, Thomas Jefferson’s Efrim Borders 70-plus yard interception return for a touchdown ignited what has now become a 5-0 overall, 1-0 conf. start.
The Gryphons, who won their second ever conference game in school history close in on a home playoff game. Right now, they would probably be seeded around eighth or so with only five wins in 1A, but six games remain in the regular season. Thomas Jefferson will travel to Avery on Friday for another Western Highlands Conference game.
Down South in Chesnee, the Golden Eagles improve to 3-1. They had a balanced attack in scoring twice rushing, twice passing and once on the defensive side. However, they had to survive double-overtime against Pendleton, 35-28 for the victory. They will host Carolina Academy this Friday for homecoming.
In the NASCAR world, Brad (the silent ninja) Keselowski makes himself a front runner for the championship after winning this weekend in Chicago. When Keselowski and his team are on, they can be a tough to get past. Sometimes they get lost in mid-pack, but I think they are the most intriguing team in “The Chase” this year. Keselowski bypassing Jimmie Johnson late and leaving him on Sunday was impressive, considering the clutchness Johnson brings as a five-time champ to “The Chase.”
Eleven of the Twelve Chasers finished 18th or better on Sunday, with the exception of Jeff Gordon. For thought as they head to New Hampshire this weekend, eight of the twelve chasers have won at Loudon before.
The Braves look to have a wildcard bid in hand with less than 15 games to go this season. They certainly have all the tools to do something special this postseason, but we will see how it all unfolds before we start talking championship. I mean it’s Chipper Jones last hoo-rah and that would be a fitting way to end a 20-year career in Atlanta. I am not going any farther than that though at the moment.
On the NFL front, the Carolina Panthers played much better in Sunday‘s win over New Orleans, but both sides of the ball just aren’t there yet. No doubt, it was the Panthers’ Charles Godfrey whose interception returned for a touchdown on defense that turned the game completely in Carolina’s favor.
However, the Saints are going to get yards, but they allowed New Orleans nearly 500 yards. Not every week will Carolina (1-1) get away with that scenario as it was a 35-27 victory.
