Carroll, Richwood win in Grambling jamboree

Using an efficient running game to set up the pass is the widespread basic yet effective theory. The execution at the elite high school level requires finer caveats to it, the subtle nuances that make the ultimate difference.

At least, it’s supposed to be more complicated than that.

Richwood’s two scoring drives were kept alive with early ground gains but ended with passing touchdowns as the Rams beat Delhi 18-0 in the Eddie G. Robinson High School Football Classic Jamboree hosted by Grambling State.

Richwood’s first scoring drive started with Anthony Watson’s eight- and nine-yard carries. Three plays later, freshman quarterback Ashley Holmes threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Smith for the first points of the game.

After a safety, Richwood iced the game with a scoring drive that Holmes pushed into Delhi territory with a 17-yard run and Dequaris Hollis’ run for 26 yards put the Rams on the edge of the redzone. Holmes’ second touchdown pass of the night was to Hidari Ceasar from 24 yards out.

“It’s a good formula,” Richwood coach Robert Arvie said. “That’s exactly what we needed. I thought the running backs ran well, Dequaris Hollis ran hard and broke a few tackles. We got some good blocking at the point of attack from the offensive line.

“We started off slow, we made too many mistakes early. We had a lot of penalties force us to start on 1st and 15, and against a good team, we can’t do that. The second half was much better and we cleaned that up, but that’s the main thing I preached was those 1st down penalties.”

Richwood’s safety was made possible by consecutive Delhi miscues, which Delhi coach Jesse Esters thought turned a close game into an 18-point deficit.

“It could have gone either way. I’m not taking anything from them, but we have a lot of things to clean up,” Esters said. “We’re a little bit ahead of where we were last year, but we still have a long way to go.

“Mainly the awareness of some of my leaders needing to step up and lead. If we clean up things in the running game, we’ll be a lot better.”

Delhi got the ball back with 1:25 left in the first half and put together a scoring threat that fell 16 yards short. Quarterback Christian Powell scrambled for 17 yards then completed a 19-yard pass to Tyler Washington. Powell took two more carries for six yards and one yard before the half ended.

Delhi also had a scoring chance in the final two minutes of the game, but could not find a redzone completion to finish the drive.

Wossman battles Evangel

Wossman stood toe-for-toe with Evangel and forced timely defensive stops in its game against Evangel Christian Academy, but still lost to the Eagles 17-0.

"I don't want to take anything away from them, but I think one play here and there, a tipped ball, a fumble, those plays went their way," Wossman coach Dean Smith said. "I'm not too upset about the way we lost."

The tipped ball Smith mentioned was Evangel's first touchdown. On a well-defended deep ball to Evangel's top receiver, Tennessee commit Corey Henderson Jr., the ball was tipped around a couple of times before floating perfectly into Henderson Jr.'s hands just a few yards away from the endzone.

Wossman showed strides in its offensive front, moving into Evangel territory in its first possession primarily using the run game. Quarterback Cam Lewis scrambled to the back side of a rollout play for one first down and carries from Ladarrius Thomas and Orlando Williams for another one.

After forcing a turnover on downs in their own red zone, the Wildcats got another first down on a completion from Cam Lewis to Brandon Lewis.

"We had a couple of mental errors. We're still trying to piece this line together, but that comes in phases," Smith said. "We had the scrimmage, and then tonight we played through two halves. There are some growing pains, but we'll work it out."

The Wildcats started the second half on a strong note, stuffing two consecutive Evangel runs and forcing a punt. Wossman got a first down on the ensuing possession off of two carries from Thomas, but a fumble ended the drive before it reached Evangel territory.

Carroll edges Grambling

While both teams struggled to find consistent offensive success, Carroll took advantage of its best opportunity and needed nothing more to beat Grambling Lab 6-0.

Carroll started with the ball and gained 25 yards on nine snaps before turning it over on downs. On 1st and 10 on the Grambling 32, a fumble on a handoff exchange stalled the momentum and a third-down penalty essentially ended the drive.

The Carroll defense responded with a quick stop, allowing just two yards on three plays and capitalizing on a bad snap on the punt attempt, giving the offense the ball back five yards away from the endzone. Carroll scored on 4th and goal from the 1-yard line.

Carroll did not have as good offensive fortunes in the second half, losing two fumbles with the 6-0 lead that gave Grambling opportunities to mount the comeback. Grambling threatened to score off the second lost fumble, completing a 26-yard pass to get down to the 16-yard line with two seconds left, but a strong pass rush broke down Grambling’s final play.

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