2015 Paint Branch Game Summary
by Charles Lott, Silver Chips
The Blazers however, failed to muster any offense. They were sacked twice and threw one interception before the half was over. Junior running back Eric Zokouri attributed the team's offensive struggles to a lack of communication. "We need to improve on communicating more and coming together as a team, playing as a unit, and playing sound football," said Zokouri.
The third quarter opened much like the ones before it, with neither team able to overcome each other’s defense. Four minutes into the half, Paint Branch was again at Blair's five yard line, but on the second down was stopped thanks to a second sack by Holloway and an interception by Zokouri.
After an interception by senior defensive back Lytton Xu, Blair found some momentum. Two quick passes for Carter and DeLeon for 12 and 15 yards finally got Blair onto their opponent's defensive half. A nine yard run by Zokouri and a quarterback sneak by junior Desmond Colby brought the Blazers to the 25. Thanks to the poor conditions, Blair opted for a ground attack, and Zokouri punched it home with a 25-yard touchdown run in the 11th minute of the third quarter. After converting the extra point, Blair took the lead 7-6.
Donald De Alwis
Senior running back J'Den Seals (6) breaks through the Panthers offensive line.
Paint Branch got the ball back for the fourth quarter, and slowly made their way to the Blair 22-yard line. A long toss brought them to the goal line, and a two yard run gave them the lead, but a failed two-point conversion kept the Blazers within reach. With six minutes to go in the game, Blair trailed 7-12.
The offensive struggles returned for the Blazers, and they were forced to punt with two and a half minutes remaining. With the opportunity to put the game away, Paint Branch ran the ball on a fourth and six, but Holloway came through once again in the late minutes with a big stop. According to Ponce DeLeon, Blair just couldn't take advantage of their defensive success. "I know for a fact that we played good defense, we stopped them a lot, but we should've capitalized on offense more," explained DeLeon.
Blair got the ball back on their own 17-yard line, and made an eight-yard pickup on a pass to Carter, but it was too little too late. Three incomplete passes led to a turnover on downs, and Paint Branch ran a quarterback kneel to run out the last thirty seconds of the game.
Holloway, who had a big defensive game with two sacks and five tackles, said that the Blazers just couldn't make it happen in the late minutes. "We need to work on finishing games. When the fourth quarter comes, one minute left, we have to score," said Holloway.
The Blazers however, failed to muster any offense. They were sacked twice and threw one interception before the half was over. Junior running back Eric Zokouri attributed the team's offensive struggles to a lack of communication. "We need to improve on communicating more and coming together as a team, playing as a unit, and playing sound football," said Zokouri.
The third quarter opened much like the ones before it, with neither team able to overcome each other’s defense. Four minutes into the half, Paint Branch was again at Blair's five yard line, but on the second down was stopped thanks to a second sack by Holloway and an interception by Zokouri.
After an interception by senior defensive back Lytton Xu, Blair found some momentum. Two quick passes for Carter and DeLeon for 12 and 15 yards finally got Blair onto their opponent's defensive half. A nine yard run by Zokouri and a quarterback sneak by junior Desmond Colby brought the Blazers to the 25. Thanks to the poor conditions, Blair opted for a ground attack, and Zokouri punched it home with a 25-yard touchdown run in the 11th minute of the third quarter. After converting the extra point, Blair took the lead 7-6.
Donald De Alwis
Senior running back J'Den Seals (6) breaks through the Panthers offensive line.
Paint Branch got the ball back for the fourth quarter, and slowly made their way to the Blair 22-yard line. A long toss brought them to the goal line, and a two yard run gave them the lead, but a failed two-point conversion kept the Blazers within reach. With six minutes to go in the game, Blair trailed 7-12.
The offensive struggles returned for the Blazers, and they were forced to punt with two and a half minutes remaining. With the opportunity to put the game away, Paint Branch ran the ball on a fourth and six, but Holloway came through once again in the late minutes with a big stop. According to Ponce DeLeon, Blair just couldn't take advantage of their defensive success. "I know for a fact that we played good defense, we stopped them a lot, but we should've capitalized on offense more," explained DeLeon.
Blair got the ball back on their own 17-yard line, and made an eight-yard pickup on a pass to Carter, but it was too little too late. Three incomplete passes led to a turnover on downs, and Paint Branch ran a quarterback kneel to run out the last thirty seconds of the game.
Holloway, who had a big defensive game with two sacks and five tackles, said that the Blazers just couldn't make it happen in the late minutes. "We need to work on finishing games. When the fourth quarter comes, one minute left, we have to score," said Holloway.
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