PikeView picks up first win
PikeView (15) vs. Liberty (Raleigh) (6)
Written: Sep 09, 2011
By NICK BROCKMAN
for the Daily Telegraph
GLEN DANIEL — All three components of the game registered scores for PikeView, but it was the team’s defense that propelled the Panthers to their first victory of the season, a 15-6 win at Liberty on Friday night.
While the offense and special teams produced a touchdown each, both by David Keen, the PikeView defense limited Liberty (1-2) to just one score in a well-rounded Panthers (1-2) win.
“I thought it was a pretty good fought ballgame on both sides,” PikeView coach Jeff Damewood said. “I thought the teams were evenly matched. I’m just proud of my kids coming in here playing hard for four quarters and sticking with it.
“It takes all phases of the game. It was disappointing we couldn’t get on the board — We got the ball down inside the 20 a couple times and just couldn’t get across in the end zone, but I thought it was a great game, and that’s what we’ve been preaching to the kids, play four quarters.”
The PikeView defense entered the contest after giving up 101 points in its first two games, but Friday surrendered just one score, which was the game’s first in the second quarter.
After rushing for 225 yards and four touchdowns against Sissonville in Week 2, Raiders running back Trey Fitzwater started the night’s scoring with a 7-yard touchdown rush. There wasn’t much success late for Fitzwater though as he finished with just 34 yards rushing.
Liberty scored with 9:30 left in the second quarter. The kick failed and the Raiders led 6-0.
That’s all the stingy Panther defense would allow.
Keen scored twice in a two-minute span late in the second quarter to give PikeView the momentum and offense it needed. First, Keen capped an 11-play scoring drive with a 4-yard touchdown rush. The extra point provided the Panthers a 7-6 edge.
Keen, a senior, supplied a key play with a 10-yard rush on fourth-and-6 from the Liberty 16-yard line to extend the drive. Two plays later, Keen scored after starting toward the right side then cut up the middle to the end zone.
Liberty inherited the ball on the ensuing kickoff, but punted after a three-and-out series. Keen picked up the grounder of a punt, found the right sideline and sprinted toward the end zone, running into one of his own players in the redzone, but he recovered to find paydirt.
“David Keen knew coming in this year we needed him,” Damewood said. “He’s got to relax and play his game and not put the burden on him, but at the same token as a coach we have to get the ball in his hands as many times as possible.”
The plan worked as Keen, who worked at quarterback in shotgun formation for most of the game, finished with 123 yards rushing on 33 carries.
The second half proved to be a defensive stand for PikeView. With a 13-6 lead in hand, the Panther defense provided its own scoring on a safety. Cory Peyton provided the two points on a sack of Liberty quarterback Joey Lacek in the end zone midway through the third quarter.
PikeView’s offense moved the ball well in the second half, but without producing any points. Several penalties in the redzone caused one drive to stall. Likewise, Liberty’s offense could not muster the points necessary to mount a comeback.
Though it wasn’t the prettiest win, Damewood said there’s plenty of positive aspects to take from the game after beginning the season with back-to-back losses.
“Just morale, get the morale up, get the kids believing in the things and just get back to work,” he said. “That’s my message when I get back in there, get back to work for James Monroe next week.”
PikeView will play home against James Monroe 7:30 p.m. Friday, while Liberty next plays host to Mount View 7:30 p.m. Friday.
— E-mail: nbrockman
@register-herald.com
PikeView.......0 13 2 0 — 15
Liberty............0 6 0 0 — 6
Second Quarter
L: Trey Fitzwater 7 rush (kick failed), 9:30
P: David Keen 4 run (Seth Wood kick), 4:04
L: Keen 48 punt return (kick failed), 2:05
Third Quarter
P: Cory Peyton safety, 6:43
Individual Statistics
RUSHING — P: Keen 33-123-1, D.J. Green 13-26, Brandon Hazelwood 7-30, Hunter Moses 3-14, Jordan Hardin 1-(-1). L: Joey Lacek 8-46, Fitzwater 14-34, Daniel Carpenter 1-27, Matthew Bailey 1-12.
PASSING — P: Keen 3-12 0-40-0, Hardin 0-1 0-0-0. L: Lacek 5-12 0-32-0
RECEIVING — P: Moses 1-30, Hazelwood 2-10. L: Bailey 3-17, Jacob Adkins 2-15.
TURNOVERS — P: Keen (FR), Chris McBride (FR), Sean Severt (FR).
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