Statistics

If you’re a six foot six, 285-pound athletic high school kid living Belgium it doesn’t take too long for you to realize that European soccer is just not going to be your sport. So, you pack your bags and head for the States and Rabun Gap, a private boarding school nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia. With an emphasis on top-level football, you will surely find a place that fits your needs, along with the hope of earning a scholarship to a U.S. college. Assemble enough of these special out-of-towners and you suddenly have a hellava of a football team. In fact, Raybun Gap has players from fifty different countries. AND they are VERY good.

It was a great challenge for Massillon to take on the Eagles, especially for the youthful players sprinkled throughout the lineup. There are no average players on the field for Rabun Glen. They have great size and they have exceptional speed and well-developed skill. But the Tigers hung in there as best they could and played their hearts out for four quarters. But by the end it was just too much to overcome and they fell by the score of 50-35.

It was a back-and-forth contest for the better part of three quarters, but then came a turning point. The Eagles held a 35-28 lead and were driving to gain their first 2-score lead. But on second and ten at the Tiger 29 they lost the ball on a fumbled snap. Massillon then took over at the 45 and were in prime position to once again tie the score. Only, on the first play of the series they fumbled the handoff on a jet-sweep and that quickly negated the opportunity. The Eagles went on to score five plays later, upping the margin to 42-28 and putting the Tigers in a difficult situation from which they never recovered.

Massillon received the ball to start the game and drove 62 yards in six plays, scoring when quarterback Manny Patterson connected with Jadyce Thigpen on a 15-yard touchdown pass.

That’s when the penalties began. On three successive kickoffs following the TD, Mateo Herrara booted the ball out of bounds in failed attempts to reach the coffin corner. In each case Rabun Gap accepted a 5-yard penalty requiring a re-kick. It was a precursor of three things to come:

Penalties: The Tigers were flagged 16 times for 142 yards; the Eagles 17 times for 173 yards.
Field position: Rabun Gap’s average starting position was near midfield.
Special teams: The Eagles returned a kickoff to the end zone and another to the Massillon 12; three successive PAT attempts by the Tigers began with errant snaps, making life difficult for the holder and kicker; fortunately, they did a marvelous job of converting the points.

The Eagles scored on that first drive on a 31-yard pass from quarterback Gavin Owens to Obrokta. It was evident in that early stage that, given the size of the Rabun Gap offense line (6’-286 ave.), the accuracy of the quarterback and proficiency of the line in pass blocking, Massillon was in for a tough fight in the passing part of the contest.

The Tigers scored again on their third possession when Patterson threw across the field to a wide open Deontay Malone for 20-yard strike. Then it was the Eagles turn, with back-to-back rushing touchdowns of 12 yards by Grayson Clary, following a 76-yard kickoff return, and 8 yards by Walker Bryson, making the score 21-14 in their favor.

With three minutes remaining in the half Rabun Gap was facing a 4^th and 27 from their own 19 and was lined up to punt. But the punter, apparently sensing an opportunity, elected to try running for a first down. Only, Massillon’s Ja’Dyn Williams showed why he’s headed to Indiana when with a burst of speed ran down ball carrier after a gain of just eight yards. Massillon then, on the third play of the drive, tied the score when Savior Owens broke through the line for a 26-yard score.

The Eagles did drive to the Massillon four following the ensuing kickoff, but after a fumble on the ensuring play set them back, they ended up missing on a 37-yard field goal attempt. So, the two teams headed to the locker room tied at 21.

The third quarter resumed the back-and-forth action. First Joshua Buckhalter return Hererra’s kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown. The Tigers then responded with a 2-yard run by Owens, which he set up with a prior 29-yard run. The Eagles came right back with a 14-play drive that ended when Gavin Owens completed a 15-yard pass to Buckwalter for a TD. That was followed by the two fumbles described above.

Buckwalter would score again from two yards out and his team would convert a fake PAT to up the margin to 50-28, before Savior Owens would have the last say on a 42-yard TD run.

Savior Owens finished the game with 21 rushing attempts for 182 yards and three touchdowns. Patterson completed 11 of 17 passes for 138 yards and two scores, to Jadyce Thigpen and Malone. Unfortunately, Patterson left the game with eight minutes left on account of an injury and his status for next week is unknown.

For Rabun Gap, Gavin Owens completed 13 of 23 passes for 196 yards and two TDs. Buckwalter caught 7 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown and also scored a rushing touchdown.

Teamwise, the Eagles led in total yards, 404-316, although in yards per play, the Tigers were slightly ahead, 5.9 ave. on their 54 plays to Gap’s 5.3 ave. on their 76 plays with their ball control scheme.

The difference in the game? Both had equal talent in the skill positions, but Raybun Gap had those big lines. On offense their tight splits across it kept the Tiger rushers at bay, providing ample time for the quarterback to locate his receiver. And on defense, they put Patterson under constant pressure, often forcing him to step up into the pocket to avoid a sack. Nevertheless, Patterson did handle it very well. But it also led to his injury.

Next week Massillon will entertain another out-of-state team in L.J. Bennet, which hails from Buffalo, New York. Raybun Gap hosts Ambassador in the first of several games against North Carolina opponents. Due to their sports structure the high school athletic association in Georgia bars them from playing in their post-season tournament. Thus, the Eagles secured a home with the Carolina teams.