Fort Dorchester 28 Spring Valley 14 ... Final

[dfactor26]

In a nutshell I would just say it was an odd game, great defensive performance from Fort (despite the score) and a strange first half of miscues for the offense.


When Spring Valley fumbled on the first play of the game giving Fort a short field I think most people in the stands (and maybe a few players on the sidelines) thought this would be another game on cruise control, but that was hardly the case. After being stopped on 3rd down and then missing a field goal there still seemed to be this air of confidence that the inevitable blow out was coming. Someone forgot to tell Spring Valley that though...their option offense just grinded down the field, and the defense seemed to have trouble with it. Worse than that the offense was so time consuming and kept the Fort offense on the sideline, and you could see the frustration building among fans and players as minutes winded down in the first quarter. Finally Spring Valley put an exclamation point on the drive with a TD and having a 6-0 lead into the 2nd quarter (missed xp). Even still you could still feel that confidence from the team, get the ball back and score and everything would be fine right? Wrong...Spring Valley pulls off the onside kick and all the sudden reality sunk in for every Fort fan and player that this was going to be a battle.

The Fort defense stepped up and got the stop, but Fort's offense couldn't get into a rhythm the whole first half. Blown up first down plays, early down penalties, wide open dropped passes, players slipping turning possible 10-15 yard gains into 3 yard gains all resulted in Fort constantly being in long 3rd downs, and their just seemed to be a flatness on offense. All of that changed however in the closing few minutes of the first half, when #28 from Fort Dorchester took a simple run up the middle and with the entire Spring Valley defense on his back carried the pile about 20 yards for a big first down. That woke up the team and it woke up the fans and thankfully Fort was able to get a 7-6 lead in the closing seconds of the half on a TD pass by Joyner.


I'm not sure what happened at half but Fort came out on a mission and put a quick TD pass on the board to go up 14-6. The defense stepped up yet again giving Fort another chance. After a holding penalty on a big run by Joyner Fort had 3rd and long from the 15. That's when Joyner showed why he is one of the top sophomore QB's in the country when he hit (who else?) #81 in stride for an 85 yard TD. I'm not sure on the stats, but #81 has been an absolute beast the 2nd half of the season and tonight was no different. After getting the 21-6 lead I felt confident, Spring Valley isn't built to come back and it was obvious their offense just wasn't capable of putting points on the board in a hurry against Fort. Fort added another TD to make it 28-6 in the final minutes. Spring Valley did get another TD in the final 30 seconds to make the score look respectable, but as bad as Fort played in the first half they really dominated the 2nd half. Fort Dorchester only allowed 36 yards in the entire 2nd half, including their late TD drive.


Gotta give credit to the defense and coaching - despite the 14 points the Vikings scored they were outmatched on all but 2 drives. Fort Dorchester adjusted BIG TIME on defense and after being run over on the initial Spring Valley TD drive held for almost the entire game. I'm not sure Spring Valley even got a 1st down from the middle of the first quarter until the final minute of the game ... the Fort defense was just smothering. It's a shame they allowed that late TD because most will probably disregard the performance but I was very proud of the way they played. The Fort offense was just missing something tonight, thankfully they put it together in the 2nd half to give Fort a nice cushion. Despite the slow start Joyner still had a good night, with 200 yards passing and 4 passing TD's. WR #81 Chapagne had another big night with 145 yards receiving and 2 TD's. At the end of the night the offense put up decent numbers, but just had to deal with that slow start. But If you are going to have an off game in the playoffs, I'm glad it was in the first round against a 15th seed.


Fort moves on to play Boiling Springs who just beat one of the best lowcountry teams by 3 TD's. I fully expect it to be the toughest game Fort has had yet - and I also fully expect to LOSE if Fort comes out as flat as they did tonight! Hopefully the players got a nice little scare and reminder that you can never take an opponent lightly. I expect a battle next week and if Fort doesn't bring their A game they could be looking at a 2nd round exit. Looking forward to next Friday.

[swampfox1]

Talk about a strange game...AR game was strange yet predictable....Strange that two starting WR were not on the field all night, predictable because until someone decides to say something about a certain position on defense and make a change at that position it won't be any better next year. If the offense doesn't stop being predictable things will be bad next year if they call plays like the first 6-7 games they will be fine. I did find it strange a long time defensive coach bad mouthing a few kids after the game and I won't say names but will say that one of the kids he was bad mouthing shocked me because if you take that kid away you might not have done so well. But when another parent said its nothing new for that coach to do that it kind of made sense why AR is like a roller coaster. Everyone has to be on board coaches and players. So with that said below is a rough run down.

To start the game KO run back 96 yards to put AR down 7-0. Then strange play calling, and no adjustment. Players dropping passes, one pass looked to be a TD but the BS kid takes it from the AR WR. But predictable because AR tries to run a bubble screen or throw it deep yet BS played a 3 man front and left the middle of the field wide open, Never used the TE and predictable because no adjustment made on Offense plus I already mentioned Defense and honestly IMO just got out coached. When everyone is wondering why on 3rd down you try to go long 30 or 40 yards yet BS gave up the middle of the field all night and you don't run a drag with the TE, don't run a dig, you don't flood the zone and force the DB's to do anything but drop back for a deep pass. But hey it is what it is

After the 27-0 start AR had its chances to make it a 6 point game multiple times and possible totally different game. AR makes it 34-21 by halftime then its 41-28 AR starts to drive and again play calling, penalties and just bone headed things crept in. But like I said play calling got predictable/strange and a lot of fans for AR tonight were disappointed in the play calling and what looked to be no adjustments, it was strange game and to me the last two games seemed to be to big of a moment for AR and they just didn't look prepared tonight. IMO I think AR coaches out think themselves and honestly the kids pick up the vibe from the coaches in games like this. Yes AR went 9-2 and when you look at the record you say that is a good year or really a great year, but when you lose the way they did tonight that is what makes it frustrating. But I can say from my stand point for certain reasons I've been frustrated for most of the year about certain things (yes even when you win certain things can frustrate you). Tonight like a lot of fans its was hard to understand certain play calls and why they didn't use certain players

I will say this against Ft. D Ashley Ridge got spanked. Tonight Ashley Ridge didn't look prepared and it showed. Good luck to Ft. and hopefully this year they can bring a title back to the lower state. After seeing both teams play Ft SHOULD win IF they play to their potential. BS will be scrappy but like I said if Ft comes to play they should win.

[Wavefan70s]

Dorman west Ashley was a strange contest.west Ashley pulled out every trick play in the book.
Penalties were not evenly called.it was most of the same crew that I have seen at various games this year. Not just Summerville.they seem to focus on one team.like tunnel vision.

[fdgrad00]

Dfactor we were indeed flat. Actually it was the offensive line that seem to not wake up until the 3rd qtr. There a few things you missed. Like on fort drive after the fumble recovery by d-rock #33. Joyner obviously had his face mask jerked in front of two refs. They called nothing. On spring valley scoring drive it was a dead ball personal foul against us after spring valley begged and scream for a call. On the td pass there was an obvious hold, again no call. It was horrible with the flatness and refs. Now the onside kick didnt make it 10 yard. It hit a player first. Refs awarded spring valley the ball. Last the fumble by mj #23. When he clearly was down. This team had adversity of being flat and play against the horrible refs who early on tried their hardest to help spring valley and they still dominated. This team has way more heart then they have in yrs past

[Trojangrad10]

Dfactor we were indeed flat. Actually it was the offensive line that seem to not wake up until the 3rd qtr. There a few things you missed. Like on fort drive after the fumble recovery by d-rock #33. Joyner obviously had his face mask jerked in front of two refs. They called nothing. On spring valley scoring drive it was a dead ball personal foul against us after spring valley begged and scream for a call. On the td pass there was an obvious hold, again no call. It was horrible with the flatness and refs. Now the onside kick didnt make it 10 yard. It hit a player first. Refs awarded spring valley the ball. Last the fumble by mj #23. When he clearly was down. This team had adversity of being flat and play against the horrible refs who early on tried their hardest to help spring valley and they still dominated. This team has way more heart then they have in yrs past

Welcome to the life of the Northwestern Trojans.. No matter where we are home or away we tend to get the most ridiculous calls. We've kind of gotten used to it. When you're on top you have to beat the team on the other side of the feild and the zebras, get used to it.

[cavaliereagle]

Dfactor we were indeed flat. Actually it was the offensive line that seem to not wake up until the 3rd qtr. There a few things you missed. Like on fort drive after the fumble recovery by d-rock #33. Joyner obviously had his face mask jerked in front of two refs. They called nothing. On spring valley scoring drive it was a dead ball personal foul against us after spring valley begged and scream for a call. On the td pass there was an obvious hold, again no call. It was horrible with the flatness and refs. Now the onside kick didnt make it 10 yard. It hit a player first. Refs awarded spring valley the ball. Last the fumble by mj #23. When he clearly was down. This team had adversity of being flat and play against the horrible refs who early on tried their hardest to help spring valley and they still dominated. This team has way more heart then they have in yrs past

On the onside kick, which teams player did the ball hit?

[DeCav]

I just assumed he meant it hit a SV player first. Obviously if it hits a player on the receiving team it's a live ball no matter how far it travels.

[cavaliereagle]

I just assumed he meant it hit a SV player first. Obviously if it hits a player on the receiving team it's a live ball no matter how far it travels.

My point exactly! The FD fans are starting to sound like the Byrnes fans. Complaining about officiating at a home game they won.

[dfactor26]

I just assumed he meant it hit a SV player first. Obviously if it hits a player on the receiving team it's a live ball no matter how far it travels.

My point exactly! The FD fans are starting to sound like the Byrnes fans. Complaining about officiating at a home game they won.

I think fortgrad meant it hit SV first. I didn't see the play because I was texting and assumed a regular kickoff was coming...but my friends around me immediately starting booing and complaining and they are knowledgeable enough to know if it hit a Fort player first it was a live ball.

[cavaliereagle]

I just assumed he meant it hit a SV player first. Obviously if it hits a player on the receiving team it's a live ball no matter how far it travels.

My point exactly! The FD fans are starting to sound like the Byrnes fans. Complaining about officiating at a home game they won.

I think fortgrad meant it hit SV first. I didn't see the play because I was texting and assumed a regular kickoff was coming...but my friends around me immediately starting booing and complaining and they are knowledgeable enough to know if it hit a Fort player first it was a live ball.

Thanks