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| Titan back Brad Brower slips out of the grasp of a Black Knight lineman. |
Playing in a driving rain storm that turned the West Forsyth football field into a unmanageable quagmire, the young and struggling Titans shocked highly-ranked Mount Tabor 13-12. It was a win that saved the Titan season and one that helped them go on to gain a share of the 2005 Central Piedmont Conference crown.
Now, one year later, the stakes are once again sky high as West travels to Mount Tabor this Friday for a game that is significant on several levels.
Aside from the fact that the the Spartans and Titans have been fierce rivals for the past 20 years, Tabor is understandably anxious for revenge.
More importantly, however, is the matter of who will take control of this year’s CPC race.
Like West, the Spartans — coached by former Titan standout Barry Stewart — are 2-0 in league play. They surprised Davie County in overtime last Friday night and could take a big step towards locking up the CPC title with a win. After West, their remaining conference foes — Reynolds, East Rowan and South Rowan — have a combined total of just three wins this year.
That fact has not gone unnoticed by the Titans. After blanking North Davidson 28-0 last week, they have shifted their complete focus to challenging a young Spartan squad that has gone from rebuilding to rebuilt.
“Those guys have bought into what coach Stewart is teaching and it shows in the way they’re playing,” West head coach Chip Petree explained. “There is a new attitude over there. There are no big egos to worry about and they are stressing teamwork.”
Petree also shrugged off the notion that the Spartan coaches will be placing added emphasis on avenging last year’s loss at West.
“Like us, their primary goal will be to take over first place in the conference. Beyond that, it’s Mount Tabor vs. West — there is no need for additional hype. The rivalry gives both teams everything they need in terms of motivation.”
Alex Cutler, a defensive standout agreed — to a point.
“This a big conference game for both teams and I know that we will be working harder than ever to prepare,” he noted. “But I’m also sure that they (the Spartans) would like to get a little revenge for last year. If I was them, I know I would.”
In last week’s game against North Davidson, the Titans had no trouble routing the Black Knights for the second year in a row. The Titan defense posted its first shutout of the season while the West offense provided early breathing room with three first-half touchdowns.
West jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter on a pair of one-yard touchdown runs by Brad Brower. The two scores gave Brower a total of five TDs in the past two weeks.
After stopping North at the Titan one, West added a 99-yard scoring march to produce its third touchdown of the game. Quarterback Maurice Hughes capped off the drive with a perfectly-thrown 48-yard scoring strike to Travaughn Long and Landen Thayer tacked on the point-after to lift the West lead to 21-0.
The Titans produced a seven-play drive for their final TD of the night. Hughes sneaked in from one yard out and Thayer drilled the extra point to close out the scoring.
For the game, Hughes went 11-for-18 through the air for 220 yards. Andrew Bodenheimer and Long combined for eight catches and 186 receiving yards while tight end Brooks Ore set up a score with 25-yard reception.
On the ground, Brower finished with 53 yards on 11 carries while Jeff Gonza carried the ball eight times for 51 yards.
Defensively, Josh Peterson, Don Maciel and Ricky Finkley each collected a turnover while Maciel, John Stamper, Ron Howell and Kyle Jarrett had at least one sack apiece.
“Our guys played great but the stars this week were our assistant coaches,” Petree added. “They created and executed a perfect gameplan.”
The win lifted West’s overall team record to 5-2.
“We’ve won four in a row and our swagger is back,” added Cutler. “But we have to stay focused and keep playing hard.”