By Ashley McLeod, Staff Writer
Sep 4, 2015, 15:12
CHESTERFIELD — The Prince George Royals football team started their season on Thursday night in a matchup with the Clover Hill Cavaliers, bringing in a victory with a score of 26-16.
The Royals took possession first in the game but failed to score a touchdown. In the Cavaliers’ first possession of the game, the team ran the ball down the field, fighting through the Royals defense. With 2:05 left in the first quarter, the Cavaliers Tavaris Perry scored a touchdown, putting points on the board before the end of the quarter. With 54 seconds left on the clock in the first quarter, the Royals junior Maliki Gurley threw to junior Alli Treadway, who then scored a 42-yard touchdown, which followed with a two-point conversion by Keith Brown, leaving the score at the end of the quarter 8-7, with PG in the lead.
The second quarter yielded no points from either team. By the third quarter, both teams seemed to step up the pace and get back into the game. With 7:44 left on the clock, Malik Gurley scores a four-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 14-7. Soon after, the Royals allowed the Cavaliers a safety, bringing the score to 14-9. With a minute left on the clock, the Cavaliers punt to the Royals, who miss their chance at possession when it is stolen by the Cavaliers. The team then scored their second touchdown of the game, putting the score at 16-14, with the Royals trailing by two points.
In the fourth quarter, the Royals once again stepped up their game against the Cavaliers. With 8:04 on the clock, the Cavaliers punt to the Royals. A catch is made by senior Malik Gurley, who runs a 33-yard return scoring again for the Royals. With a missed extra point, the scoreboard now read 20-16, with the Royals back in the lead.
The Cavaliers tried with their next possession to make it down the field, but the Royals defense kept them from doing so. With 1:05 left in the game, the Royals Malik Gurley scores again on a first down, bring the score to 26-16. With the last possession by the Cavaliers, a fumble gives possession back to Prince George with 8 seconds left in the game.
With their first win under their belts, the Royals hope to continue to win during the season. Coach Bruce Carroll said praised his team, admitting there were some mistakes, but the Royals were able to come out on top in the end.
“I thought the effort on both sides was tremendous, and it just came down to one or two more plays to win the game and fortunately it was us,” said Carroll.
“We’ll enjoy this win until Monday, and then next week is a new week, a new opponent, a new scheme, but we’re still who we are and hopefully we’ll go out and have a good week,” said Carroll.
Rushing leaders for the Royals were Malik Gurley, with a net of 155 yards in 12 attempts, followed by Maliki Gurley with a net of 15 in 4 attempts. The passing leader was Maliki Gurley with 112 yards. Spencer Rotzoll led in tackles in the game, with 12 total.
The Royals pulled 14 first downs, 26 rushes, 112 passing yards and 35 offensive plays for the game. Possession time for the Royals was 27:32.
