DAPHNE 42 - DAVIDSON 7

Trojans win debut in Class 7A

Tony Whitehead, GCM Sports
Posted 8/28/20

MOBILE, Ala. – The Trojans kicked off their first conference game in the big leagues (Class 7A, Region 1) with a 42-7 win Thursday night at Ladd-Peebles Stadium against the Davidson Warriors. …

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DAPHNE 42 - DAVIDSON 7

Trojans win debut in Class 7A

Posted

MOBILE, Ala. – The Trojans kicked off their first conference game in the big leagues (Class 7A, Region 1) with a 42-7 win Thursday night at Ladd-Peebles Stadium against the Davidson Warriors. Daphne weighs in – enrollment-wise - at about 1,290 while the Warriors’ student body is about 1,590.

Daphne head coach Kenny King said playing a larger school was not new for his team, but they all knew the pressure would mean more this year.

“Our guys came in and worked hard,” he said. “Again, we are just coming into Class 7A so we didn’t know what to expect. Our job is to plan and try to execute day in and day out. And our hats are off to our players who came in focused for this game. We started off a little bit slow, but then they got going.”

Both teams battled a heavy rain most of the first half with Davidson scoring first, but the Trojans answered with three second-quarter scores and led 19-7 at intermission. After the Warriors’ Jaylen Nash scored on a 10-yard run to cap an 80-yard, game-opening drive, Daphne’s defense got the shutout.

Kaleb Jones caught a pass from Trent Battle 22 seconds into the second quarter for a 70-yard touchdown and Cory Bonner’s extra point tied the score. The Trojans took the lead on their next possession after a 52-yard drive when Tyler Bradley scored on a 7-yard run. Daphne added to the lead with 3:13 left in the half when Veontai Williams went 68-yards on a sweep.

In the third period, Battle found Crum for a 6-yard TD pass, Battle ran one in from the Warriors’ 45 and Battle then found Javon Wood for a 73-yard score. In the fourth, Nick Clarke broke several tackles to go 64 yards and the final Trojan TD. With under 10 minutes remaining, Daphne’s Tyler Durant got a tackle in the Davidson endzone for a safety.

Coach King also credited his defense for helping to contain the Warriors’ attack.

“They have a very potent offense and we made a lot mistakes on the opening drive. But we settled down after that didn’t give up yardage like that first series. We knew that they had good speed and they showed it. But ,we were able to contain better after that. Out team as a whole played well, including special teams.”  

Daphne will host Eastern Shore neighbor and Jubilee Cup rival, Class 7A Fairhope next. King said the game, also nicknamed the, “War on the Shore” and the “Baumhower Bowl” with the Pirates is always exciting.

“It’s always a big game. Big rivalry. This year it means even more with us being in the same conference. But we’ll enjoy this victory tonight and then jump on that one tomorrow.”