Offense falters as North Greenville loses season’s first game
Posted by The Skyliner on September 2nd, 2009Cory Guinn
Copy Editor
The Crusaders’ offense lines up against Mars Hill Saturday night at Younts Stadium. (Photo by Ashley Herndon)
The North Greenville football team kicked off the 2009 season on Aug. 29 against Mars Hill as new head coach Jamey Chadwell led his Crusaders onto the field in front of a packed house of more than 5,000 fans dressed in black at Younts Stadium in Tigerville, S.C.
University of Georgia head coach Mark Richt was in attendance to watch his son, Mars Hill quarterback Jon Richt, lead the Lions against a tough Crusader defense. Richt tossed two touchdowns in the game, and running back Jonas Randolph rushed for 181 yards and one score as Mars Hill defeated North Greenville 28-0.
One of many changes to this year’s team is the new spread offense introduced by Chadwell in the offseason. The offense, led by quarterback Richard Harb, junior history, was unable to get much momentum throughout the entire game. They were in the red zone four times but were unable to put any points on the board. Harb finished the game 10-29 for 66 yards and one interception. Marcus Middleton, junior sport management, was the main target in the passing game finishing, with four catches for 43 yards.
“The passing game is hurting at the moment because we have injuries,” wide receiver Sean Wright, sophomore sport management, said. “One of our really good wide receivers, Taylor Malphrus, has been out with a leg injury for a couple months now, and I got hurt last night on the third play of the game.”
“But I’m very confident in the people we have playing, and I know they will get the job done,” Wright said. “The offense will work even harder in practice, and everything will fall into place.”
The running game continued to be the strength of the Crusader offense as running back Montez Hatten, sophomore business, rushed for 62 yards on 19 carries. Hatten also caught four passes out of the backfield and finished with 13 receiving yards.
“We have two great running backs in Marcus Wilson and Montez Hatten,” offensive lineman James Thurn, junior broadcast media, said. “Both are very explosive, and we are proud to have them. Running the football starts with the offensive line, and we have to improve.
“We had some pretty good runs, but we need to be more consistent,” Thurn said. “It is going to take work everyday in practice but we will do it and get better. The season is young and we will be a threat when it is over.”
A veteran Crusader defense forced three turnovers in the game but tired in the second half, which led to the Mars Hill victory. Linebacker Damien Wright, graduate student, led the defense with 5.5 tackles and one tackle for a loss.
Defensive captain and Pre-Season Second Team All-American in Division II Andre Bernardi, senior sport management, had 4.5 tackles, one sack, and two tackles for a loss.
Defensive lineman Johnell Bell, senior business administration, finished with three tackles and one sack. Linebacker Doug Wilson, junior marketing, had 4.5 tackles and an interception in the fourth quarter that he returned for 50 yards.
“I was pleased that we kept playing until the end,” Chadwell said after the game. “The effort was there. We did not give up and kept after it. The defense kept us in early, but we needed to score. We felt like if we could get a few points, we might have a chance. Their running back (Randolph) is a good player and that made a difference.”
North Greenville (0-1) will travel to Wingate, N.C., next week to take on Wingate University in a 1:30 p.m. contest on Sept. 5.
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 1