Panthers secure homecoming triumph over Surry, 29-14

Panthers Charles Vaden (3), Jovan Howard (11), and TeSean Greene (23) upend and plant Surry running back Dontrae Lyttle. Click on “Photo Gallery” for more photos.

Andre' Jones photo

Offensively, Charles City’s Panthers didn’t provide dazzling numbers last Friday during its homecoming football game. They didn’t have to.

Powered all night by superb defense and great field position, the host Panthers (4-5 overall, 2-2 Tri-Rivers) triumphed over the visiting Surry County Cougars (3-6, 0-3) 29-14 in their final game as a member of the Tri-Rivers District.

Charles City wasted little time making its impact on defense. The Cougars’ first drive was thwarted when running back Dontrae Lyttle coughed up the ball after homecoming king Bryan Johnson forced the fumble. Panther linebacker Jaquane Wyatt pounced on the ball.

From there, Avery Jones directed the Panthers’ opening drive. Jones’ back-to-back runs totaling 33 yards coupled with a 13-yard pass to Wyatt set up his 4-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown. Nils Friese’s placement upped the score to 7-0.

Surry would respond in what would be the Panther defense’s lone slip-up. Speedy running back James Pulley took a handoff over the right side and scampered 76 yards for the score, closing the gap to one for the visitors.

Charles City’s defense made amends for the big play with one of its own in the second quarter. With the Cougars threatening to score, Cougar quarterback Derrick Bailey took to the air, looking for intended wideout DeAndre’ Davis. Jones intercepted the pass and followed a convoy of teammates 80 yards into the end zone. Jovan Howard’s two-point conversion gave the hosts a 15-6 lead heading into halftime.

Jones ignited the second half for the Panthers with a 57-yard kickoff return to open an offensive series at the visitors’ 28-yard line. Jones connected with Howard on an 18-yard pass that led to Howard’s 1-yard scamper for a score. Friese’s placement increased the lead to 22-6.

Charles City culminated its scoring on the night early in the fourth as Wyatt followed blockers into the end zone on a four-yard run, the first career touchdown for the sophomore.

Surry’s final score came with less than a minute remaining against Panther substitutes when Bailey connected with Davis on a 31-yard pass play.

After the game, head coach Steward Greene said homecoming festivities had an impact on the game and affected his players mentally.

“We had so many players participating in many of the activities going on around here that I think we mentally had breakdowns tonight,” he said. “We uncharacteristically had a ton of penalties in situations where we normally don’t commit them. Factor in that we were out of place to make plays on offense and defense, we were sloppy.

“We were really out of sync,” he continued. “Fortunately for us, we did well enough to pull out a good homecoming win.”

Charles City’s offense mustered only 200 total yards, whereas its counterpart totaled 331. Benefitting the hosts was starting field position. The majority of Charles City’s five offensive drives started near midfield, with the worse starting position being the team’s own 38-yard line.

Charles City closes out its regular season this Friday hosting Arcadia Firebirds for Senior Night. The Panthers will more than likely earn a berth in the Group A, Division 1 East playoffs and may host a first round game depending on the outcome of its season finale.

Surry————— 6 0 0 8 —— 14
Charles City——- 7 8 7 7 —— 29
1st Quarter
CC (6:36)- Jones 4 yard run (Friese kick) 7-0
Surry (6:13)- Pulley 76 yard run (run fail) 7-6
2nd Quarter
CC (1:06)- Jones 80 yard interception return (Howard run) 15-6
3rd Quarter
CC (9:04)- Howard 1 yard run (Friese kick) 22-6
4th Quarter
CC (10:49)- J. Wyatt 2 yard run (Friese kick) 29-6
Surry (:53)- Davis 31 yard pass from Bailey (Pulley run) 29-14

Rushing (attempts/yards)
Surry- Lyttle 17/65, Pulley 16/149, D. Bailey 4/6, Briggs 1/1, Davis 1/-6.
CC- Greene 11/56, Howard 6/18, Jones 5/30, Carroll 4/22, J. Wyatt 4/12, K. Wyatt 1/0.
Passing (completions/attempts/yards)
Surry- D. Bailey 6/17/116, 1 TD, 2 Int.
CC- Jones 4/9/43, Howard 1/5/13, K. Wyatt 1/1/6.
Receiving (receptions/yards)
Surry- Pulley 2/59, Davis 1/31, S. Bailey 1/16, Bradshaw 1/8, Lyttle 1/2.
CC- Howard 2/25, J. Wyatt 1/13, Carroll 1/13, Vaden 1/6, K. Wyatt 1/5.