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Football: Forney ends Smith's postseason hopes
By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
CARROLLTON - There will be no postseason in 2012 for Newman Smith's football team.
The Trojans needed a win Thursday at Standridge Stadium in their District 10-4A finale against Forney but instead saw the Jack Rabbits control the clock in the first half en route to a 38-6 victory. With the win, Forney claims the fourth spot from the district ahead of Smith.
"Forney just made plays and we didn't," said Paul Ressa, Smith head coach. "We missed some receivers and we were just a little off. We had good energy and the kids played as hard as they could. We were just off today."
The teams settled into a defensive battle early in the first half, with neither squad scoring on its first two possessions before Forney broke the drought with a field goal early in the second quarter for a 3-0 advantage.
The squads then traded punts but the Smith returner muffed his opportunity setting up Forney at the Trojans' 46-yard line. The Jack Rabbits took advantage, running five consecutive times for 46 yards capped by a 12-yard touchdown run from A.J. Etnip.
Miscues cost Smith on its ensuing drive as well, as the Trojans moved to Forney's 35-yard line following a completion from Cole Brewer to Ryan Huntley. However, a fumble on the next play stalled the drive and the teams went to the break with Forney in front, 10-0.
Forney took control on the opening possession of the second half, when a pair of 23-yard scampers from Jenkins set up a first and goal situation where Forney quarterback Jack King connected with Jimmy Summerall for a 10-yard score and 17-0 lead.
Following the opening possession of the second half, Forney had run 46 plays against 29 for Smith.
"There was some issues with [getting worn down]," Ressa said. "That can get you sometimes. I guess [the muffed punt] was a big turning point and momentum swing."
King would later find Jacob Norris for a 20-yard strike to take control at 24-0.
It didn't take Smith long to answer as the Trojans got on the board just 1:07 later on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Brewer to Zach Rasmussen. The score was set up by a 67-yard reception from Huntley. But Smith's attempt to get within two possession failed when a two-point conversion was unsuccessful.
Brewer threw for 130 yards and a score to lead the Smith attack but managed just 2.6 yards per carry on the ground. The Trojans rushed for 43 yards on 16 carries as a team.
"Forney was able to get on the wide nines and made sure that Cole wasn't able to get out on the edge," Ressa said. "But again I just felt like we were off today."
Any momentum the Trojans built on the drive was quickly squashed when Forney responded with a five-play drive over 2:02 to push the margin back to 31-6 on Jenkins' touchdown run.
King would later add a third touchdown pass and finished 8-of-12 for 66 yards and three scores.
"I told the kids I'm very thankful for this season and that they let me coach them," Ressa said. "This is a great bunch with great leadership in that locker room. They did some really good things. A lot of these kids have been with me for four years and I'd like to think that they became really good men over there time. It's hard. Chemistry was our thing. These guys truly loved each other, so it was a tough way to have to go out."
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