Prep Football: Foxes bounce back in grand fashion

BY KURT NICOLL

King George’s homecoming crowd did not have to wait too long to see how their Foxes would respond to last week’s loss to James Monroe.

The Foxes (5–1, 2–1) scored on their first six possessions and took advantage of five Spotsylvania turnovers for a one-sided 59–0 Battlefield District victory last night.

Junior quarterback Corey Henderson completed three touchdown passes and scored on a 54-yard scramble following a low snap from center. And Xavier James and David Hutt had long interception returns for scores.

Even the King George reserves had a hand in the rout. Quarterback Austin Fisk made a nice fake handoff into the line before rolling to his left to score from 9 yards out, and only a couple of game-saving tackles denied junior Markiece Johnson a six-pointer while amassing 66 yards on four carries.

“It felt great to win my first homecoming game at King George,” said Jacob Baker, who hauled in a pair of TD passes in the first half. “Corey is a really good quarterback. He makes very good passes and sets me up well with easy balls to catch.”

The transfer from Fredericksburg Christian made a nice adjustment on his 24-yard catch to open the scoring three minutes into the contest. The senior made a leaping catch as he crossed the goal line and still managed to maintain possession as he came down.

His other TD covered 21 yards as Baker found a seam in the Knights defense, had to wait for the ball to arrive, but had no difficulty scoring.

Midway through the second quarter, Alon Clipper slipped behind two Spotsylvania defenders to haul in Henderson’s third TD aerial, increasing the Foxes’ lead to 36–0. Later during intermission, he would be crowned homecoming king, while PAT kicker Lindsey Armentrout was chosen homecoming queen.

A lost fumble at the 27-yard-line gave the Knights a rare scoring opportunity late in the first half, but junior Jordi Estes made a nifty interception at his own 2 to end the threat.

Estes also was a force on the offensive end, scoring a TD and finishing with 61 yards on 10 carries. “Coming into next week, it makes us that more confident,” the 5-foot-7, 165-pounder said concerning the impact of the shutout.

“The whole package is starting to come together,” King George coach Jeff Smith reflected. “We just have to continue to believe and get ready for Chancellor [next week].

“We had to get their minds right coming back yesterday and today,” he added. “‘Remember what it felt like last week. You don’t want to repeat that feeling.’”

And while victimized by the late-game ice bucket drenching that often befalls coaches after an important victory, Smith holds his current crop of players in high esteem.

“They’re a great bunch of kids. They’re pretty disciplined and you see it on the field,” he said. “Our big motto this year: All in, no matter what, and everybody has to play together.”

Next Friday, the Foxes travel to Chancellor, while the Knights (2–4, 1–2) look to rebound when they play host to Eastern View.

Spotsylvania 0 0 0 0 — 0

King George 10 26 10 13 — 59

First Quarter

KG-J. Baker 24-yard pass from C. Henderson (L. Armentrout kick)

KG-E. Chase 42-yard field goal

Second Quarter

KG-X. James 64-yard interception (L. Armentrout kick)

KG-C. Henderson 54-yard run (L. Armentrout kick)

KG-J. Baker 21-yard pass from C. Henderson (kick failed)

KG-A. Clipper 20-yard pass from C. Henderson (kick failed)

Third Quarter

KG-J. Estes 1-yard run (L. Armentrout kick)

KG-E. Chase 30-yard field goal

Fourth Quarter

KG-A. Fisk 9-yard run (L. Armentrout kick)

KG-D. Hutt 49-yard interception (kick failed)

TEAMSTATISTICS

Sp KG

First downs7 20

Rushing yardage34-105 35-282

Passing yardage47 150

Passes5-18-3 9-13-0

Punts-Avg.6-33.0 1-28.0

Fumbles-lost4-2 3-1

Penalties-yards6-43 9-86

INDIVIDUALSTATISTICS

Rushing: King George—Corey Henderson 7-96, TD; Markiece Johnson 4-66; Jordi Estes 10-61, TD; Kendall Harvey 4-32; Deshon Brown 5-15; Austin Fisk 4-12, TD; Hunter Tolliver 1-0. Spotsylvania—Ashten Dixon 13-46; Aaron Brown 7-22; Clinton Ferguson 6-16; Darius Carter 2-14; Josh Morris 3-7; Kevin Reifenberg 1-6; Nate Haynes 2-(-6).

Passing: King George—Corey Henderson 9-13-0 150, 3TD. Spotsylvania—Ashten Dixon 5-16-2 47; Darius Carter 0-2-1 0.

Receiving: King George—Jacob Baker 3-63, 2TD; Deshon Brown 3-55; Alon Clipper 1-20, TD; Sam Sharp 2-12. Spotsylvania—Nate Haynes 3-31; Travis Huber 1-12; Clinton Ferguson 1-4.

Kurt Nicoll: 540/374-5440

sports@freelancestar.com

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