By Sedrick Bolton III October 22, 2022
HAMPTON Both teams started this game with a record of 4-3, but a 21-0 fourth quarter gave Lovejoy the edge to defeat Morrow to cap off their homecoming night.
The Wildcats started their drive with a 21-yard reception from junior Antonio Floyd then a 20-yard run from quarterback Malachi Lightfoot. On the fifth play in the drive, senior Trevon Kinchen rushes in for the first score of the game.
On the extra point, Morrow gets called for offsides. But that actually worked in their favor as the ball hits off the upright in the second attempt, leaving the score to 6-0.
Following a Mustangs' punt late in the second quarter, the Wildcats were backed to their one yard line. Kitchen ran for 19 yards to get Lovejoy away from their goal line. After that, the Wildcats marched down the field and their drive ended with Floyd scoring the touchdown. At the half, Lovejoy led 13-0.
But something changed once the second half started.
From having just four penalties in the first half, Lovejoy started the third quarter with three consecutive penalties. After going three-and-out on the first drive they punt to Morrow.
A mishandle of the snap in the end zone led to the Mustangs getting a safety. On the second play of their drive, Morrow's senior Jerimiah Rice catches and runs it in for the team's first touchdown.
Following another three-and-out by the Wildcats, Mustangs' running back Andrew Craig got a few carries to get them close to the goal line. Quarterback Darrell Lyons would keep the ball and run it in for another score, capping off a 16-0 run to take the lead. Morrow had all the momentum heading into the fourth.
The Wildcats, however, took back control of the game. It started with Kinchen running it in for the TD to recapture the lead 20-16. On the ensuing Mustang possession, sophomore Nizhan Feagin picks off the quarterback and returns it to Morrow's 3-yard line. Fullback Zacchaeus Storey capitalized on the turnover, rushing in for the score.
After an three-and-out by Morrow, Lovejoy again gets hurt by penalties, with one overturning a 40-yard TD run. Three straight flags caused a 2nd-and-23 situation for the Wildcats.
But Kinchen came up big, not only getting the first down but carrying all the way to the Morrow's 6-yard line.
"I just felt like we needed it," said Kinchen on his 62-yard run. "I've been working hard trying to get better...I know the team needed it so I gave it to them."
The dagger came with the Lightfoot-to-Floyd connection for the TD, ending the game 34-16.
Lovejoy came into this game averaging 30 points while holding their opponents to nearly 22. This game shows that Wildcats are starting to build a rhythm as the season progress.
"Well, that just show that, you know, things we've been working on, the kids are starting to buy into what we're doing," said Lovejoy's head varsity football coach Edgar Carson. " Hopefully we can continue to eliminate a lot of mistakes so we can continue to get better."
Lovejoy's next oppenent is Forest Park October 28 and Morrow's next opponent is Rockdale County October 29.
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