Colts outlast Greyhounds in high scoring affair

By STEVE KNOX

Sports Connection Team

NEWPORT - Rivercrest quarterback Cavonta Washington scored on a 2-yard run with 12 seconds remaining as the Colts outlasted the Newport Greyhounds 48-44 in a classic battle between the two long-time rivals.

Rivercrest’s Jakavion Williams returns the opening kickoff for a Colts touchdown. Rivercrest got off to a fast start and survived with a late score to defeat Newport.

The win kept the Colts unbeaten (5-0, 2-0) and gave the Greyhounds (4-1, 1-1) their first loss of the season.

Things got off to a quick start as Rivercrest’s Jakavion Williams returned the opening kickoff 84 yards for a Colts touchdown. Rivercrest then caught Newport napping on the extra point as holder Joe Louis Ralph fired a pass to Keiran Morris to give the Colts an 8-0 lead 14 seconds into the game.

It would not take the Greyhounds long to respond as running back Kiandrea Barker ran 57 yards for a score with 9:29 to play in the period. Greyhound quarterback Luke Reynolds two-point run would come up short and the Colts led 8-6.

The score remained the same until just over three minutes into the second period, the Colts’ Washington lofted a 20-yard scoring pass to junior wide receiver Buddah Harris and Hunter Ellis booted the first of four successful point after kicks to make it 15-6 Colts with 8:58 to play in the first half.

Newport would answer just over two minutes later when Reynolds tossed a 44 yard scoring pass to wide- out Demetric Denton to make it 15-12 with 6:45 to play in the half. The Colts would stop Reynolds short on the two point attempt to preserve the three point advantage.

Rivercrest increased its lead to double digits at the 4:23 mark of the quarter as Washington found Morris on a 29 yards scoring pass to make it a 22-12 Rivercrest lead.

The Greyhounds were not done though as Reynolds hooked up with Denton on a 31-yard scoring strike to make it 22-18. Newport’s two point pass effort would fall incomplete and Rivercrest held a 22-18 advantage at the break.

The Greyhounds would grab their first lead of the night when Barker returned the second half kick off 85 yards for a Newport touchdown to make it 24-22. Reynolds then added the two point run to make it 26-22 Greyhounds with 11:44 to play in the third quarter. Rivercrest would answer just 12 seconds later as Siquori Bonner returned the ensuing Greyhound kickoff 68 yards to the house to make it 29-26 Colts with 11:32 to play in the third.

Back would come Newport as Barker scored his third touchdown of the game. This time on a 19 yard run to put his team back in front 32-29, with 8:10 left the in the quarter. The Colts would answer with a scoring drive capped by a 10 yard run by Jayden Young at the 4:49 mark of the quarter to make it 36-32 Rivercrest.

Newport would tack on one final score in the quarter as Reynolds called his own number on an 18-yard scoring run to give the Greyhounds the lead 38-36 with 51 ticks left on the third quarter clock.

Newport maintained that lead for nearly eight minutes of game time, until the Colts’ Washington raced 20 yards for a score to give the Colts a 42-38 lead with 4:35 to play.

Newport would comeback strong with Reynolds tossing this third scoring pass of the game to Denton, this time from 11 yards out to give the Greyhounds a 44-42 advantage with just over a minute 91:09) to play.

Undeterred, the Colts’ Washington calmly moved his team down the field and would cap the game winning scoring drive with his 2-yard run in the final seconds and Rivercrest escaped with a huge victory.

The Colts were paced by Washington who completed 15 of 21 passes for 254 yards and two scores. Harris led Rivercrest’s receivers with113 yards and a score on four catches. Morris had two catches for 59 yards and a score. Young had seven catches for 49 yards, while Ralph had one catch for 24 yards and Williams had one grab for 9 yards.

Washington paced the Colts ground game which racked up 220 yards on 29 carries. Washington had 140 yards on 14 rushes and two scores. Young had four carries for 32 yards and a score. Tekylun Sanders had six carries for 27 yards, while Ralph had three rushes for 18 yards, Williams ran it twice for three yards.

Colts defenders recorded 11 tackles for loss in the contest with Morris having four of his 10 tackles going for negative yardage. Ralph also had 10 stops with three of his being for a loss. Young had a hand in nine tackles, while Demanual Harris had eight tackles including one for a loss. Nolan Williams and Sanders both had seven tackles with one of Williams going for a loss and Andrew Lomack recorded six tackles, one for a loss. Young also recovered a fumble and picked off a Reynolds pass.

Newport got 366 yards rushing as Barker had 202 yards on 18 carries with two scores. Reynolds added 119 yards on 16 totes with a score. Tonio Phillips added 43 yards on nine carries for the Greyhounds.

Reynolds was 11 of 19 passing with 109 yards and three scores. Denton hauled in all three scoring passes and had four catches for 85 yards.

Sophomore Trae Henderson led Newport with 14 tackles, while Phillips and fellow senior Jack Sampson both had nine stops. Jataelyn Crite and Luke Sampson added seven stops each for the Greyhounds.

Both teams return to action Friday as the Colts host Hoxie (2-3, 1-1) and the Greyhounds travel to Osceola (31-1, 2-0).