Durant scores early and often, pulling away from Strawberry Crest behind a balanced offensive attack.
The Strawberry Crest Chargers hosted the Durant Cougars Friday night in a matchup where Durant’s offense and defense took control early. The Cougars entered the game at 1-0, while Strawberry Crest was looking for its first win of the season after opening the year 0-1.
Durant won the coin toss and elected to defer, giving the Chargers the ball to begin the game. Strawberry Crest started its opening drive at the 22-yard line, but the Cougars quickly forced a three-and-out. After a two-yard run, an incompletion that went through the receiver’s hands brought up third and long. Quarterback Zljohn Stallworth attempted to scramble for the first down, but the Durant defense brought him down and forced a punt.
The Cougars took over at their own 35-yard line with 10:14 remaining in the first quarter.
Quarterback Sam Themar opened the drive with a short completion to Dexter Snyder before a short run set up third and long. Themar then found King Rivera wide open near midfield for a first down, keeping the drive alive.
Micah Dixon followed with a big run that moved the ball all the way to the Strawberry Crest 11-yard line. On the next play, Maurice Keene punched it into the end zone to give Durant a 7-0 lead with 7:26 remaining in the first quarter.
Things quickly got worse for the Chargers. Strawberry Crest had a bad return on the ensuing kickoff and was forced to begin its next possession at its own 11-yard line. Mason Newton immediately made his presence felt for Durant, recording a sack that pushed the Chargers back four yards.
After an incomplete pass, Stallworth was taken down in the end zone for a safety. The Cougars extended their lead to 9-0 with 6:20 remaining in the opening quarter.
Keene, who had already scored a touchdown, then provided another spark for Durant with a strong kickoff return that placed the Cougars inside the Strawberry Crest red zone.
Durant continued to capitalize. After a two-yard run by Keene, a Strawberry Crest encroachment penalty moved the Cougars forward. Themar then ran the ball, and an unnecessary roughness penalty against the Chargers moved Durant to the six-yard line with a first down.
Themar kept the ball again on the next play and scored, extending Durant’s advantage to 16-0 with 4:29 left in the first.
Strawberry Crest continued to battle. Dexter Snyder made a strong open-field tackle on Stallworth to prevent what could have been a big gain, but the Chargers eventually found some momentum. Dylan Yeager ran for a first down, moving the ball to the 36-yard line.
Two short runs left the Chargers facing third and long, and an incomplete pass forced them to punt. Strawberry Crest then surprised Durant with a fake punt, with Yeager running for a first down and keeping the drive alive.
Stallworth added a short run as the first quarter came to an end with Durant leading 16-0.
The Chargers began the second quarter at midfield, facing second and long. Stallworth ran on the opening play of the quarter to set up third and five. Strawberry Crest called a timeout to draw up the next play, but Newton recorded his second sack of the night to bring up fourth down.
Rather than punt, the Chargers went for it. Stallworth scrambled for a first down and was tackled at the Durant 30-yard line, bringing the home crowd to life.
A pass interference penalty against Durant moved Strawberry Crest to the 20-yard line. Stallworth then connected with Santana Sheppard for another first down, giving the Chargers their first goal-to-go opportunity of the night at the nine-yard line.
Stallworth tried to keep the ball but was quickly tackled for no gain. An encroachment penalty against Durant moved the Chargers five yards closer to the goal line. After a short run, Strawberry Crest faced third and goal from the three.
With 6:55 remaining in the half, the Chargers called another timeout.
The decision paid off.
Tre Feliciano powered his way into the end zone for Strawberry Crest’s first touchdown of the night. The score cut Durant’s lead to 16-7 with 6:47 remaining in the second quarter.
The Chargers attempted an onside kick following the touchdown, but Durant recovered and started its next possession at midfield.
Micah Dixon opened the drive with a run to the Strawberry Crest 35-yard line. On just the second play, Themar connected with Rivera for a touchdown, immediately answering the Chargers’ score and pushing Durant’s lead to 23-7 with 5:44 left in the half.
Strawberry Crest began its next drive at the 24-yard line, but Durant’s defense once again made life difficult for Stallworth. Multiple defenders swarmed the Chargers quarterback for a sack. An incomplete pass followed, and Stallworth’s subsequent run came up short of the first down, forcing another punt.
The Cougars took over at midfield with 4:07 remaining.
Themar continued to find Rivera, connecting with him for nearly 15 yards. After a short run, Themar took another shot toward Rivera, but Strawberry Crest defensive back Ezra Brantley broke up the pass.
After a timeout with 2:21 left, Themar found Snyder for a first down. Two short runs put Durant in another third-and-long situation, and the Cougars used another timeout with 1:10 remaining.
Themar dumped the ball off to Keene for a first down, putting Durant just outside the 10-yard line.
Once again, Themar found Rivera.
Rivera’s second touchdown of the game extended Durant’s lead to 30-7 with 52 seconds remaining in the half.
Strawberry Crest refused to simply run out the clock. Feliciano broke loose for a 20-yard gain, and the Chargers quickly moved into their hurry-up offense. Stallworth scrambled for approximately eight yards, and Strawberry Crest got to the line to stop the clock.
With only two seconds remaining, the Chargers took one final shot at the end zone from near midfield. Stallworth scrambled but was tackled. A Durant penalty moved the ball forward, giving Strawberry Crest one untimed play before halftime.
The final pass fell incomplete, and Durant entered halftime with a commanding 30-7 advantage.
The Cougars received the ball to start the third quarter and immediately threatened again from their own 35-yard line.
Keene broke off a big run on the opening play, but a holding penalty brought the play back. Keene stayed aggressive, ripping off another strong run that moved the ball to the Chargers’ 31-yard line.
Dixon then checked into the game and immediately picked up a first down, moving Durant into the red zone. Themar kept the ball on the following play, setting up third and four.
Strawberry Crest called a timeout with 8:22 remaining in the quarter.
Durant attempted a screen pass on third down, but the ball fell incomplete. The Cougars elected to go for it on fourth down, but the pass was incomplete, giving Strawberry Crest a much-needed turnover on downs.
The Chargers took over at their own 11-yard line with 7:47 remaining in the third.
After back-to-back incompletions, Strawberry Crest faced third and 10. A defensive holding penalty against Durant gave the Chargers new life and a first down.
Stallworth then scrambled for eight yards before Yeager picked up a first down. The Chargers moved the ball back to midfield and were looking to build momentum.
However, two more incomplete passes brought up fourth down. Strawberry Crest went for it, but Stallworth was sacked, giving Durant possession at midfield.
Stallworth was injured on the play, resulting in an injury timeout.
Durant’s offense struggled to capitalize on the next possession. Two short runs created a third-and-long situation, and Themar fumbled but recovered before being sacked. The sequence forced the Cougars to punt, a rare three-and-out opportunity for the Chargers’ defense.
Durant’s punt, however, was outstanding. An excellent kick and bounce pinned Strawberry Crest at its own four-yard line.
Lyric Bagnato entered at quarterback for the Chargers. Feliciano carried the ball twice, setting up third and six.
That’s when Durant delivered another major blow.
Bagnato’s pass was intercepted by Jeremiah Stanley, who returned it for a touchdown. The pick-six put Durant ahead 37-7 with only 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Strawberry Crest opened the fourth quarter with a big play as Bagnato connected with Sheppard for a substantial gain, moving the Chargers to the Durant 40-yard line.
Bagnato then completed a pass to Aaron Parker for four yards. An incompletion brought up third and six, and Feliciano’s run set up fourth and four.
The Chargers lined up to go for it, but a timeout was called with 10:11 remaining.
Durant was then flagged for roughing the passer, giving Strawberry Crest another first down. The Chargers appeared to score shortly afterward, but the touchdown was erased by a holding penalty.
Two straight incompletions brought up another fourth down. Strawberry Crest prepared to go for it again but called a timeout with 9:20 remaining.
This time, the Chargers converted in the biggest way possible.
Bagnato found Sheppard for a touchdown, cutting the Durant lead to 37-14 with 9:12 remaining.
Durant answered by putting the game away on the ground.
Adam Eskew entered at running back and immediately ripped off back-to-back big gains, moving the Cougars from their own 30-yard line to midfield in just two plays. Eskew added another strong run for a first down before Keene returned to the backfield.
Keene picked up nine yards and helped move Durant into the red zone. After the Cougars reached first and goal, they called a timeout with 5:51 remaining.
Dixon carried the ball for five yards on the next play, setting up second and goal from the three-yard line.
Keene finished what he started.
The Durant running back powered into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night, extending the Cougars’ lead to 44-14.
That touchdown proved to be the final score of the game.
With the victory, Durant improved to 2-0 on the season, continuing its strong start. Strawberry Crest, meanwhile, dropped to 0-2 despite several moments of fight and determination throughout the night.
The Chargers showed flashes offensively, particularly during their second-quarter touchdown drive and their fourth-quarter response. Stallworth’s scrambling ability helped create several big plays, while Feliciano and Yeager provided important contributions on the ground.
But Durant’s early defensive pressure, explosive rushing attack, and connection between Themar and Rivera proved too much to overcome.
The Cougars left Strawberry Crest with a convincing 44-14 victory, while the Chargers will look to regroup and search for their first win of the season.
