Junior running back Patience Andrews didn’t mince words with his teammates in the postgame huddle following Nation Ford’s less-than-convincing scrimmage performance against visiting Sun Valley in the fourth annual Gus Allen Memorial Jamboree Friday night in Fort Mill.
The team’s effort was poor, he said. The tackling wasn’t clean. Pass protection wasn’t sustained. The coverage wasn’t good enough.
Without a change, he said, the Falcons would lose to non-region Blythewood in the first regular season game next week. He said he wanted the team to run conditioning drills after each practice this week.
Head coach Michael Allen agreed.
“They’re gonna get it,” he said. “They want more, they’ll get it. They’re real motivated, that’s not the issue. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we’re gonna work real hard. They’ll come off of this, and we’ll get the right pieces in the right places.”
Nation Ford was unable to enter the red zone, much less score, in a 13-0 preseason loss to Sun Valley (Monroe, N.C.). The teams played 12-minute halves.
Quarterback Carson Sanford had his best opportunity to score on his team’s opening drive. He found wide receiver Josh Ameo for 20 yards to break into the Spartans’ 33, but was unable to connect with the route on fourth and four soon after.
Allen said he was glad to get everyone some reps heading into the first week of the regular season. He said he had a few ninth-graders on the field at times. While the team didn’t choose to run its whole playbook, Allen said he was happy with the team’s offseason.
“I like our kids’ passion,” he said. “They’ll turn it back up again.”
On defense, Nation Ford tried their best to hold their own. The starters forced a Spartans punt on Sun Valley’s opening drive, holding the visitors to just 13 yards on seven plays.
But Sun Valley scored on both possessions where it could convert on impact plays. Facing fourth and one just inside Nation Ford territory midway through the first half, Sun Valley converted a first down with a short rush, then scored a 46-yard passing play on the ensuing snap, with the running back breaking a tackle on his way to the end zone.
Sun Valley took over just inside the second half and held on to the ball for nearly seven minutes as the Spartans slowly inched their way downfield with short screens or rushing plays. Sun Valley quarterback Noah Lineberry found receivers for back-to-back receptions for 27 and 14 yards to enter the Nation Ford 20.
But the drive finally died after 70 yards on 15 plays when the Falcons’ defene flushed Lineberry out of the pocket and down for a sack. The Spartans tried a field goal from 18 yards out, but Nation Ford blocked the short kick.
Sanford took over the drive on his own seven, and was unable to muster up a drive of his own. On second and 14, Sanford was forced to his right and was picked off by a Sun Valley linebacker who ran the ball back to the Falcons’ 15.
The Spartans only needed three plays to score, with a 16-yard pass into the back of the end zone. Despite Nation Ford again blocking the kick, the PAT attempt spun just over the crossbar for the extra point.
“We’re really young at the (O-line),” Allen said. “The expectations are higher than how they performed tonight. I fully expect them to be at the top of their game. They’ll get better day-by-day. Nothing is ever as good or bad as it seems.”
Nation Ford begins the regular season with non-region road games against Blythewood (Aug. 23) and York Comprehensive (Aug. 30) before its first home game against River Bluff on Sept. 6.
