REPLAY: McDonogh 35 takes 6-3 win over Carver in defensive struggle

NEW ORLEANS – In a day and age of spread offenses and points aplenty at all levels, seeing a game where two teams with fine skill players score nine points is the obvious exception to the rule.

While Carver played excellent defense, McDonogh 35 played even better defense Thursday night in a 6-3 victory over the Rams in the LHSAA Game of the Week seen live at CrescentCitySports.com.

Defense was the focus immediately.

Dre’lyn Read Evans picked off a Manuel Armstrong pass on the opening possession of the game to give Carver the ball at the Roneagles 48-yard line.

The Rams took advantage, driving 36 yards in nine plays with Gary Blake booting a 29-yard field goal to make it 3-0 with 6:52 to play in the opening quarter.

Near the end of the first quarter, a good punt pinned Carver back to its own four-yard line and the 35 defense held and got the ball back at the Carver 39-yard line. The Roneagles needed just four plays to take the lead as Armstrong connected with Claudell McDonald on a 25-yard touchdown pass and it was 6-3 with 11:53 to play in the half.

Carver had a chance to tie it midway through the second quarter but Blake missed a 36-yard field goal attempt.

The second half was all about the Roneagles defense, which held Carver to just two first downs, including one by penalty.

Dorion Jefferson each had an interception for the Rams (2-2). Senior quarterback Quincy Curry was the entire offense for Carver. Curry rushed nine times for 43 yards and completed 13-of-26 passes for 103 yards, accounting for all 146 yards of offense that Carver posted.

“This game was all about our defense,” McDonogh 35 head coach Wayne Reese said. “We controlled the line-of-scrimmage and our linebackers and defensive backs played very well. We covered their receivers well, stopped the run and got good pressure on Curry. We have been close in previous games but tonight, we found a way to finish the game and win. We should be able to build on this.”

Steveland Williams was outstanding for McDonogh 35 (1-3) rushing 17 times for 111 yards but he left the game injured in the fourth quarter and did not return. Armstrong completed 5-of-13 passes for 53 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

McDonogh 35 heads to Edgard to take on West St. John next Friday night while Carver heads to Hoss Memtsas Stadium to battle Helen Cox next Thursday evening.

FINAL
MCD 0 6 0 0 — 6
CAR 3 0 0 0 — 3

Scoring
1st Qtr.
CAR—Gary Blake, 29-yard FG

2nd Qtr.
MCD—Claudell McDonald, 25-yard pass from Manuel Armstrong (kick failed)

First Downs:
MCD 15, CAR 8

Penalties:
MCD 8 for 65 yards, CAR 4 for 42 yards

Sacks:
MCD 2, CAR 0

Turnovers:
MCD 2, CAR 1

Rushing Yards:
MCD 173, CAR 43

Passing Yards:
MCD 53, CAR 103

Total Yards:
MCD 226, CAR 146