MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Carver-Montgomery Wolverines had two second half stops inside their red zone to go and win against Park Crossing in a big Class 6A Region 2 contest at the Cramton Bowl. Carver used a stingy defense that kept Park Crossing out of the end zone in the second half and to improve to 2-0 in the region.
Carver-Montgomery made some big plays in the passing game to get the big win. "We played with a lot of heart and fight tonight," said Wolverines Head coach James Thompson. "Proud of our football team. We felt like defensively we gave up big plays on the kickoff and a couple of big plays on offense in the first half. So at halftime, we told our players to keep playing hard. We believe in our offense."
Carver (3-1, 2-0) started first with the scoring. WIth 11:02 left in the first quarter, Marquarius Moore went deep to Kedarius Cobb on a 38-yard touchdown pass for the Wolverines. The extra point was missed but Carver led 6-0. "I was an opportunity to make a play for our team," said Wolverines receiver Cobb. "I want to do anything for my team. We have to keep going and win the region to get into the playoffs. We have good offense that needs to keep getting better each week."
Park Crossing (2-2, 1-1) scored with 3:36 left in the first quarter on a Adaryll Lewis 1-yard touchdown run. With the extra point, Park Crossing led 7-6 in the game. Cobb came back and caught a 31-yard pass to setup the next Wolverines touchdown. With 8:17 left in the second quarter, Moore threw to Ali McMillian on a 10-yard touchdown pass play for Carver. With the touchdown, Carver takes back the lead at 13-7.
On the Thunderbirds next possession, Jayius Langford found AJ McPherson over the middle of the field and he took it into the end zone for a Park Crossing touchdown. With the score, the Thunderbirds took back the lead at 14-13. On the ensuing kickoff, Juwon Gaston broke loose on a 68-yard kickoff return for a Wolverines touchdown. Carver took back the lead at 20-14 with 4:41 left in the half.
William Ford came right back on the kickoff and he returned the ball deep into Carver defense but the Wolverines defense stood deep in the red zone and kept the six point lead. Carver marched right down the field with less than three minutes left in the half, but Thunderbirds defensive back DeMarcus Harris picked off a pass in the end zone to keep the score at 20-14 at the half.
In the second half, both teams had chances to score. In the third quarter, Carver was driving again, but Thunderbirds DB Jaylen Anderson picked off a pass in the end zone and ran it back into Carver territory but the Wolverines defense turned them away and Carver was not giving up the lead.
With less than five minutes left in the game, Park Crossing had two good chances to score but was turned away on downs and Carver went on to the region victory. Up next for both teams, Carver will travel to Opelika while Park Crossing will host Eufaula.
