CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Northeast football hosted Northwest Thursday for its senior night game. Both teams entered the contest in desperate need of a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
After finding the end zone on their very first possession of the game with relative ease, the Vikings struggled to move the ball offensively.
Northeast’s defense would make adjustments and shut out the Viking offense the rest of the way out, as senior Malik Rumble came away with a key interception midway through the fourth quarter to stall Northwest’s final shot at a comeback.
Northeast football coach Brandon Clark talked about Rumble’s effort and positioning on the play that led to the eventual 18-7 Eagle win on senior night.
“He just put himself in the right place at the right time,” Clark said. “He’s very coachable and certainly capable of doing things like that. I’m real proud of him.”
Four costly turnovers plagued the Vikings on Thursday, as Northwest struggled to put points on the board.
Northwest football coach Neil Furnish said the self-inflicted errors doesn’t make the loss any easier to swallow.
“I thought we had a good game plan,” Furnish said. “It’s one of those things where you’re trying to change a culture and teaching to fight to the finish. We always say finish better than we started. I can’t really say we did that tonight. They were getting to the point where they were getting a little nervous and didn’t allow the coaches to do what we do. It is what it is.”
The Vikings are now down 15 starters since the end of last season, making it extremely difficult to find chemistry on and off the field.
“When you put us on paper last spring, we were really good,” Furnish said. “In the era we’re in, kids move and little things like that happen. You’re constantly improvising and adapting. It’s tough, but again our core guys are fighting for me.”
The Vikings had success on the ground early on, as Isaiah Hall scored untouched on a 10-yard carry to give Northwest a 7-0 lead with six minutes to go in the opening quarter.
Furnished discussed what Northeast did differently and why there was less room to run the rest of the game.
“They loaded the box on us a little bit,” Furnish said. “I thought this was the best game our offensive line played all year. They had seven and eight guys in the box. We were still gaining some yards, but we’re a team where we can’t have any penalties and play behind the sticks. We got caught a couple times and that’s what stalled our drives.”
On second-and-goal from the eight-yard line, Northeast freshman quarterback Jaiden Puig hit Jalen Miller for a touchdown to pull the Eagles within one before the failed two-point conversion attempt.
A few plays earlier, Yamil Marsh picked up a fourth-and-five to keep the Eagle scoring drive alive. Clark believes Marsh is continuing to make strides in leading the Eagle backfield.
“I feel like he’s getting better as the season goes,” Clark said. “At the beginning of the year he wasn’t one of our top backs. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s starting to play really big. I know that he’s also becoming a great leader which we’re really proud of.”
With 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter, Elijah Leaupepe picked off Northwest quarterback John Redden after the Vikings crossed midfield, keeping the score 7-6 at the break.
In the third quarter, Puig connected with Miller yet again for the two’s second touchdown of the game, putting the Eagles up 12-7.
Clark broke down the play call that led to the eventual 40-yard score.
“That was an RPO (run-pass option),” Clark said. “110 percent of me was pretty sure he (Puig) was going to hand off the ball and get a first down. As soon as he pulled it, I actually got really angry until I saw it was a touchdown and couldn’t stay angry long. That’s what makes him special. A lot of freshman don’t think that way. He’s been one of the biggest surprises of the season for sure.”
With six minutes left to play in the game, Northeast turned the ball after failing to convert on fourth-and-short. The Vikings couldn’t capitalize, as they gave the ball right back to the Eagles on a lost fumble.
Marsh and the Eagles took advantage, as the junior running back turned the turnover into points on a five-yard rushing touchdown to make it 18-7.
Northeast (2-6, 2-3) heads to Henry County to face the Patriots Friday, Oct. 25.
Northwest (3-5, 1-3) has a brutal schedule to wrap up the season as they travel to take on Clarksville Friday, Oct. 25 and then end at Henry County the following week.
Furnish’s message to his players on closing out the year is a simple one.
“Never ever quit,” Furnish said. “The scoreboard does not determine a champion. A champion is how you present yourself every day and how you fight to the finish. One thing I was taught as a young man and player coming up from one of my coaches was D.D.F.D.T.V which means “Dedicated to fight and determined to victory”. If you have those things inside of you, it’ll take you a long way, regardless of wins and losses. No, I’ll never be satisfied with losing, but at the same time, I know I’m doing right by these young men.”