Silverdale Stops Grace, 42-7

"We have never been 8-0 ... ever ... but you have to keep setting the bar higher each week."

-- Silverdale Baptist coach Al Rogers

 

On Homecoming, the four horsemen of Silverdale ran and ran and ran some more as the Seahawks defeated Grace Academy, 42-7, in a District 5-A high school football game Friday night.

The four seniors  - Josh Rogers, Matt McCulley, Matt Millard and Lincoln Phillips -  all contributed in the win as the Seahawks improved to 8-0 overall and 2-0 in district play. Grace is 2-6 overall and 0-2 in district play.

 Millard (123 yards) scored three times on runs of 3, 47 and 3 yards, McCulley (29 yards) rushed for one score and returned an interception 45 yards for another, while Rogers (153 yards) scampered 36 yards to pay dirt. Phillips made his contribution on defense with three quarterback sacks and a pass break-up.

Millard set the tone for the evening with a 32 yard opening kickoff return, scored the first of three touchdowns seven plays later and the undefeated Seahawks were never headed.

The M&M Boys - Millard (47 yards) and Matt McCulley (2 yards) put 14 more points on the board in the second quarter for a 21-0 advantage heading to the locker room.

Grace then opened the second half as James Rowell returned the kick off 66 yards and Will Slack scored eight plays later.

Grace got the ball back after a missed Silverdale field goal attempt, but any momentum gained did not produce points as the Golden Eagles went three and out on the next series and then were turned away with no points inside the Silverdale 5 yard line in the fourth quarter.

Millard scored his third touchdown in the third quarter, while Rogers (36 run) and McCulley (45 INT) closed out the scoring in the final stanza.

"We ran the ball well and the defense held Grace to just seven points, "said coach Rogers.

"Our guys up front on defense - Aubrey Shamblin, Jonathan Sanders and Ben Bower - made it real difficult for Grace to run up the middle," Rogers stated.

Note Worthy

Homecoming Court: Queen - Jessica Gilbert ... KIng - Stone Hood

Good Start – Silverdale’s Matt Millard returned the game’s opening kickoff 32 yards to the Seahawks 47 …. 7 plays later, he scored the first of three touchdowns from the Grace 3-yard line for a 7-0 lead after Conner Eischeid converted on the first of six extra point attempts …

Touchdown-Saving Tackles – Will Slack (RB/DB) of Grace hustled to make a pair of touchdown saving tackles …

 In the second quarter, he ran down Josh Rogers at the Grace 20 on a 41-yard run … Silverdale’s Matt McCulley scored two plays later for a 21-0 lead

 In the third quarter, Slack caught Matt Millard on the Grace 13 on a 43-yard run … Silverdale missed a field goal attempt four plays later.

Grace got the ball back after a 26-yard missed field goal attempt by Eischeid and hoped for some momentum, but went three and out on the next series and were stopped inside the Silverdale 10 in the fourth quarter.

 For Silverdale … On the second half kickoff, Junior Jordan Delashmitt chased down James Rowell of Grace who returned the kick from his own 20 to the Silverdale 14 …. Grace’s Will Slack scored a touchdown on that possession …

 3 Quarterback Sacks: Silverdale’s Lincoln Phillips was a standout on defense as his stats included three sacks and a pass block … he had 10 QB sacks entering the game, including four against Sweetwater.

 Win Streak: Silverdale has won 15 straight regular season games over two seasons after a loss to Boyd-Buchanan in Sept. 2012 …

 District Title is on the Line:  Nov.1 -  Silverdale (2-0) at Boyd-Buchanan (2-0) … winner is district champ … Boyd-Buc has not lost a district game since 2008

More Than a Game ...

Food Bank is Better Off after Tonight - Fans from Silverdale and Grace combined to give 4,000 pounds of canned goods which translates to 3,50 meals for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank

American Cancer Society - Silverdale has raised $1,850 to help cure breast cancer

Silverdale 42, Grace 7

Grace 0 - 0 - 7 - 0 -- 7

Silverdale 7 - 14 - 7 - 14 -- 42

SA – Matt Millard 3 run (Conner Eischeid kick), 7-0 … 1st Q …  53 yards, 7 plays.. 3:08

SA – Millard 47 run (Eischeid kick), 14-0 … 2nd Q … 54 yards, 2 plays,   :33

SA – Matt McCulley 2 run (Eischeid kick), 21-0 … 2nd Q … 76 yards, 4 plays, 1:35

Grace – Will Slack 3 run (Josh Leamon kick), 21-7 … 3rd Q … 14 yards, 8 plays, 4:00

SA – Millard 3 run (Eischeid kick), 28-7 … 3rd Q …. 43 yards, 9 plays … 3:28

SA – Josh Rogers 36 run (Eischeid kick), 35-7 … 4th Q … 56 yards, 4 plays … 3:18

SA – Matt McCulley 45 interception return (Eischeid kick), 42-7 … 4 th Q … 1 play, 45 yards

Records: Silverdale (8-0, 2-0),  Grace (2-6, 0-2)

 contact B.B. Branton  at william.branton@comcast.net