Gate City Pummels Lebanon in CMD Opener, 44-0

[jimbeam 10]

by Allen Godsey

TriCitiesSports.com

September 17, 2010

 

GATE CITY -- A smothering defense and a ball control offense that capitalizes on mistakes and doesn't turn the ball over is a combination that's hard to overcome in football.

 

Gate City pummeled Lebanon 44-0 in each teams opening Clinch Mountain District game Friday night at Legion field.

 

Gate City's defense, which was led by senior linebacker Seth Clark (5-11, 200) with 14 stops, held Lebanon to 29 total yards in the game. The Pioneers only had two net yards in the last half and had 11 offensive plays that went for negative yardage in the game.

 

The Big Blue defense put Gate City (3-1, 1-0) on the scoreboard 2-0 with 5:41 left in the first quarter as sophomore Montana Morris burst around the right end and blocked the Lebanon (2-2, 0-1) punt attempt out the back of the end zone for a safety.

 

"We've seen them so many times since my freshman year," said Clark. "Two times each of the past two years. We know each other pretty well, they'd ended our season in the Region two straight times that was a motivator for us. We're flexible on defense depending what we think is coming our way."

 

Gate City's offense then put together a 50-yard drive for a touchdown after the free kick that took five plays. Joseph Vaughn, a touchdown machine, ran the ball into the endzone from eight yards out on third and goal. Logan Byrd, who was a perfect six-for-six on points after, increased the Blue Devils lead to 9-0 with 4:15 left in the first quarter.

 

Vaughn, who scored three touchdowns in the game, recovered an incomplete Pioneeer pass that was ruled a lateral at the Lebanon 37. Senior Dusty Clark caught a four-yard pass on first down, Vaughn blasted through right tackle behind blocks by Clark, Austin Dockery, and Austin Reed to move the ball to the six. Quarterback Nick Bowen sprinted right and cut back across the middle for the score to increase Gate City's lead to 16-0 with 11:50 left until halftime.

 

Vaughn, who gained 90 yards in 11 carries has scored nine touchdowns this season.

 

"We came out and played good tonight. We had a little chip on the shoulder from our loss to Lebanon in the Region D finals last year," said Vaughn. "We've been thinking about that loss for a year now."

 

"Our offensive line did a good job blocking again tonight,. Austin Dockery, Cody Vaughn, Daniel McMurray, Austin Reed, Cody Davidson, and Mitchell Rhoton are doing the hard work in the trenches for the backs."

 

Senior defensive end Logan Russell came up big with nine stops, Seaver Elliott, Aaron Kiser, and Montana Morris each had six stops for the Blue Devils, who harassed the Pioneers from the opening kickoff to the final gun.

 

"The kids played hard. We're a little bit quicker than them, we threw a little and that opened up some stuff," said Gate City coach Bill Houseright. "They had some big splits and couldn't block us. We took a lot better angles tonight than we did last week.

 

"We are getting better, but we are nowhere near where we can be."

 

After forcing a Lebanon three and out, they only kept the ball for three downs and had to give it back four times in the game. Gate City got the ball on the Pioneer's 45 and it took nine plays to hit paydirt with Vaughn picking up his second score from seven yards out to increase the lead to 23-0.

 

Vaughn then recovered a high snap over the Lebanon punters head on the four and junior Derick Miller got the touchdown to increase the lead to 30-0 with 4:59 left before halftime.

 

Dusty Clark, who is a valuable performer both ways for the Blue Devils, saw his most action of the year after missing the first two games with a groin injury. Clark gained 77 yards in 11 trys and did his normal outstanding job blocking and playing defense.

 

"I'm back," said Clark. "Playing is a lot more fun. There is nothing more enjoyable than getting into the endzone for a score, but the next best thing as knowing that you contributed a good block that helped a teammate score."

 

Sophomore quarterback Nick Bowen, in addition to his rushing TD, connected on 5-of-7 passes for 79 yards. His confidence and performance is getting better every game.

 

Vaughn, who is a load to get down, returned a punt 52 yards on Gate City's first possession of the second half to increase the lead to 37-0.

 

Bowen then lofted a pass down the left side that Morris ran under without breaking stride for a 48-yard catch and run for the Devils final score of the game with 1:27 left in the third quarter.

 

Lebanon's offensive leader in the game was senior Justin Adams with nine yards in nine carries. The Pioneers lost starting QB Nick Smith in the Powell Valley game with an ankle injury, he is still recovering from that injury.

 

"We didn't come ready to play, the coaches wern't ready, and the players wern't ready," said Lebanon coach John Adams. "Gate City has got a whale of a football team and they gave us a good butt-kicking tonight that's all there was to it."

[gcdevils47 10]

by Allen Godsey

TriCitiesSports.com

September 17, 2010

 

GATE CITY -- A smothering defense and a ball control offense that capitalizes on mistakes and doesn't turn the ball over is a combination that's hard to overcome in football.

 

Gate City pummeled Lebanon 44-0 in each teams opening Clinch Mountain District game Friday night at Legion field.

 

Gate City's defense, which was led by senior linebacker Seth Clark (5-11, 200) with 14 stops, held Lebanon to 29 total yards in the game. The Pioneers only had two net yards in the last half and had 11 offensive plays that went for negative yardage in the game.

 

The Big Blue defense put Gate City (3-1, 1-0) on the scoreboard 2-0 with 5:41 left in the first quarter as sophomore Montana Morris burst around the right end and blocked the Lebanon (2-2, 0-1) punt attempt out the back of the end zone for a safety.

 

"We've seen them so many times since my freshman year," said Clark. "Two times each of the past two years. We know each other pretty well, they'd ended our season in the Region two straight times that was a motivator for us. We're flexible on defense depending what we think is coming our way."

 

Gate City's offense then put together a 50-yard drive for a touchdown after the free kick that took five plays. Joseph Vaughn, a touchdown machine, ran the ball into the endzone from eight yards out on third and goal. Logan Byrd, who was a perfect six-for-six on points after, increased the Blue Devils lead to 9-0 with 4:15 left in the first quarter.

 

Vaughn, who scored three touchdowns in the game, recovered an incomplete Pioneeer pass that was ruled a lateral at the Lebanon 37. Senior Dusty Clark caught a four-yard pass on first down, Vaughn blasted through right tackle behind blocks by Clark, Austin Dockery, and Austin Reed to move the ball to the six. Quarterback Nick Bowen sprinted right and cut back across the middle for the score to increase Gate City's lead to 16-0 with 11:50 left until halftime.

 

Vaughn, who gained 90 yards in 11 carries has scored nine touchdowns this season.

 

"We came out and played good tonight. We had a little chip on the shoulder from our loss to Lebanon in the Region D finals last year," said Vaughn. "We've been thinking about that loss for a year now."

 

"Our offensive line did a good job blocking again tonight,. Austin Dockery, Cody Vaughn, Daniel McMurray, Austin Reed, Cody Davidson, and Mitchell Rhoton are doing the hard work in the trenches for the backs."

 

Senior defensive end Logan Russell came up big with nine stops, Seaver Elliott, Aaron Kiser, and Montana Morris each had six stops for the Blue Devils, who harassed the Pioneers from the opening kickoff to the final gun.

 

"The kids played hard. We're a little bit quicker than them, we threw a little and that opened up some stuff," said Gate City coach Bill Houseright. "They had some big splits and couldn't block us. We took a lot better angles tonight than we did last week.

 

"We are getting better, but we are nowhere near where we can be."

 

After forcing a Lebanon three and out, they only kept the ball for three downs and had to give it back four times in the game. Gate City got the ball on the Pioneer's 45 and it took nine plays to hit paydirt with Vaughn picking up his second score from seven yards out to increase the lead to 23-0.

 

Vaughn then recovered a high snap over the Lebanon punters head on the four and junior Derick Miller got the touchdown to increase the lead to 30-0 with 4:59 left before halftime.

 

Dusty Clark, who is a valuable performer both ways for the Blue Devils, saw his most action of the year after missing the first two games with a groin injury. Clark gained 77 yards in 11 trys and did his normal outstanding job blocking and playing defense.

 

"I'm back," said Clark. "Playing is a lot more fun. There is nothing more enjoyable than getting into the endzone for a score, but the next best thing as knowing that you contributed a good block that helped a teammate score."

 

Sophomore quarterback Nick Bowen, in addition to his rushing TD, connected on 5-of-7 passes for 79 yards. His confidence and performance is getting better every game.

 

Vaughn, who is a load to get down, returned a punt 52 yards on Gate City's first possession of the second half to increase the lead to 37-0.

 

Bowen then lofted a pass down the left side that Morris ran under without breaking stride for a 48-yard catch and run for the Devils final score of the game with 1:27 left in the third quarter.

 

Lebanon's offensive leader in the game was senior Justin Adams with nine yards in nine carries. The Pioneers lost starting QB Nick Smith in the Powell Valley game with an ankle injury, he is still recovering from that injury.

 

"We didn't come ready to play, the coaches wern't ready, and the players wern't ready," said Lebanon coach John Adams. "Gate City has got a whale of a football team and they gave us a good butt-kicking tonight that's all there was to it."

 

montana morris is a junior... but good post haha

[Bigrhsfan 884]

Congrats on a great win ! Looks like total domination in that game . wow !

[Jason 299]

montana morris is a junior... but good post haha

 

Heck I thought he was a Sophomore too.

[gcdevils47 10]

Heck I thought he was a Sophomore too.

 

nope, haha. he is a junior i promise.

[jimbeam 10]

Montana Morris is a Junior his brother Bo is a Sophomore.I did not write the story just copied and posted it here.

Edited September 20, 2010 by jimbeam

[Jason 299]

Montana Morris is a Junior his brother Bo is a Sophomore.I did not write the story just copied and posted it here.

 

I guess it was Bo I was thinking about. lol

[Gym 10]

I thought that it might be bad we gave Lebanon all they could handle and Gate City dominated us.

[Gizmo777 10]

Congrats Gate City on a big statement game. I thought the Richlands game final score was not indicative of you're team. I thought you had several very good players and I knew Clark was very good as well but missing. Is the Montana kid really just a 10th grader. He looked good against Richlands and if he has two more years he could be special. Good Luck with the rest of year and in playoffs.