Rosewood completes comeback victory

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on September 21, 2013 11:25 PM

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With three minutes left in the game and 76 yards from the end zone, Rosewood head coach Robert Britt turned the ball over to quarterback Jacob Sasser.

The senior signal caller engineered a scoring drive that gave the Eagles a 24-20, come-from-behind victory over South Lenoir at Branch Pope Field on Friday evening.

Rosewood scored the game's final 24 points.

"I told the team at halftime that we were a good enough team to come back and win this game," Britt said. "I am so proud of how the kids reacted and how they kept their composure."

The Blue Devils opened the game with a lengthy scoring drive that culminated with a one-yard plunge by Dion Jones.

South Lenoir broke the game open with two big plays in the second quarter.

Noah Stroud took a hand-off and rolled 78 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the quarter. After the Eagles drove the ball into the red zone, a fumble bounced toward the goal line and was recovered by Jones at the two-yard line. Jones returned the ball 98 yards for a touchdown.

The Blue Devils led 20-0 at the intermission.

Rosewood (2-3 overall) took the opening possession of the third quarter and scored on a 60-yard run by Mike Woodard. The Eagles cut the deficit to 20-16 midway through the fourth quarter when Sasser raced nine yards to the end zone.

A quick South Lenoir three-and-out series gave Rosewood the ball back on the game's final possession.

Sasser completed four of six passes and managed the clock perfectly as the Eagles marched down the field. With 55 seconds to go, Jamari McGown took a hand-off and cut around the right edge for a 14-yard touchdown. Woodard added the two-point conversion to complete the 24-20 final.

"This is the kind of game that our kids will remember for the rest of their lives," Britt said. "To come back from 20 points down in the third quarter is something special."

Woodard led Rosewood with 133 yards on seven carries. McGown added 67 yards on 11 carries. Sasser completed eight passes on 18 attempts for 79 yards.

Rosewood finished with 385 yards of total offense. The Eagles' defense held South Lenoir (1-4) to 253 yards of total offense.

Rosewood opens Carolina 1-A Conference play at home next week against Hobbton.