(Story Taken from JDNews Sports Page, Sunday 9/6/15 Not On Web): Corral

     While it may have seemed liked the end of the world was coming at Southwest following its 0-2 start, that was far from the case at The Corral.

   Just ask first-year coach Charlie Dempsey, who was quite pleased with his team’s practice performance leading up to the Stallions’ 21-14 win at Richlands on Friday night.

   “We tried to keep pushing,” Dempsey said. “The guys did a good job of not getting down being 0-2.”

   Dempsey wasn’t the only one who felt the Stallions practiced well. Sophomore running back Jakoby Johnson, who rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries, said Southwest practiced like it always tried to do: hard.

   “We were motivated this week but we are always motivated,” he said. “We practice this week like we do for any other team.”

   And that resulted in a hardfought effort against Richlands.

   “The kids kept fighting and really stuck their noses in there,” Dempsey said. “Some guys stepped up and really wanted the ball and my line wanted to block and the defense kept playing hard and finally put some pressure on the quarterback in the second half.”

   Hard-running Washington

   Northside junior running Dwayne Washington certainly doesn’t run like a 5-foot-9, 180-pounder. Just ask Jacksonville. Washington rushed for 159 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries

   – more than half of his team’s total of 47 rushes in the Monarchs’ 21-7 win over Jacksonville.

   “And he was one step breaking away a lot of them,” coach Bob Eason said. “He did a good job. He’s not the biggest back, but he runs hard. He reminds of some of our older tailbacks that we had that   were about his size.

   “And he wanted it. He made a long run, we took him out, and he wanted to put it in the end zone. He wants the ball and we want him to carry it.”

   Washington didn’t do it on his own, however. His offensive line cleared the way for his run as did his fullbacks, Meshack Smith and Jaquarius Wooten.

   “They brought the wood,” Eason said. “They did a great job.”

   Defensive Stallions

   Other than a 47-yard touchdown pass play by Richlands that tied the game at 14-14 in the third quarter, Southwest’s defense didn’t allow too much offensive success by the Wildcats in the second half.

   After allowing six first-half first downs, the Stallions only allowed three in the second half.

   “Our line, we told them they needed to get more pressure on the quarterback,” Dempsey said. “And they were running too deep past the running backs. We had to do a good job of fighting off blocks. We moved some guys around to give Richlands different looks and I think we kept them on their toes.”

   A tough task for a coach

   Richlands coach Justin Snider was asked how difficult it will be for his team to rebound from the heartbreaking defeat and well from being 0-3 as it prepares for next week’s game at South Lenoir.

   “That’s the challenge,” he said. “I’ve been here going on four years now and for this community and these kids, this week (playing Southwest) means so much to them. It’s very difficult when you play a close game and (fall short). I think the kids really expected to start off really strong. But we are going to try to keep them focused on the big prize. We will remind them that the true season comes   when we get into conference.”

   Bad practice makes less than perfect

   Jacksonville coach Beau Williams wasn’t pleased with his team’s performance – and not just in losing to Northside.

   Williams said the Cardinals didn’t practice as well as he would have liked them to during last week’s open date and this week leading into the game against the Monarchs. Asked if the 43-minute lightning delay, which came with the score tied 7-7, hurt the Cardinals, Williams replied:

   “Nah, pretty much ours was our attitude some during the week. ... Mentally all week we were definitely in and out with our preparation. One day we had a great day, two days we had bad days. It catches up to you when you play a good team.”

   Big win — even Eason

   says so

   Northside’s win over Jacksonville snapped a two-game losing skid to the Cardinals and prevented them from becoming just the second team to ever beat the Monarchs three straight years since the school opened in 2001.

   Even Eason said that was a big deal.

   “Heck yeah, I am tied up in it,” he said. “You take pride in your program. You’re happy about things like that. I thought the kids responded. They didn’t talk about it a whole lot, but then they read (the) article (in The Daily News) and they responded. They didn’t want it to happen, either, because they’ve got a lot of pride, too.”

   Bringing it back

   One of Jacksonville’s lone bright spots against Northside was Alex Pullin’s 65-yard punt return for a 7-0 lead with 9:34 left in the opening   quarter. With two defenders hovering around him as the ball bounced on the turf, Pullin picked the ball up and raced around the left side.

   While risky, Pullin pulled it off.

   “He’s done that all the time,” Williams said. “He’s an aggressive kid.”

   Eason was surprised he took the chance.

   “But you know what, that’s a lesson learned (for the Monarchs’ special teams players),” he said. “Fall on the dang football. Usually what happens you try to pick that up somebody hits you. But we just stood there. But lesson learned. Maybe it’s what took to get us woke us up. We’ve been slow starting.”

   Northside trickery

   Down 7-0 after its first series and facing a three-and-out on its second, Northside reached into its bag of tricks. Punter (and quarterback) Jake Erickson threw a 7-yard pass to #7 (Kalev Henry) instead of punting on fourth-and-7 at the Monarchs 26-yard line.

   “We worked on it all week,” Eason said. “When we needed a momentum switch I felt like early after that punt they took back (for a touchdown), so (he called for it).”

   Inspirational words

   After the game, Snider often credited his players’ efforts against Southwest, saying the Wildcats gave everything they had.

   “We made several fourth-down stops, we played much better defense and we moved the ball at times,” he said. “I just thought the kids played their hearts out. They showed a ton of character.”

   Happy Birthday

   Jacksonville offensive coordinator Chip Williams is celebrating his 65th birthday Saturday. Happy birthday, coach.

  Northside junior running back Dwayne Washington (22) looks for room behind offensive lineman Quincy Graham during the Monarchs’ 21-7 victory over previously unbeaten Jacksonville at Northside High School on Friday. Washington rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Photo by John Sudbrink / The Daily News

PHOTO: John Sudbrink/The Daily News...Dwayne Washington looks for room behind teammate Quincy Graham in 21-7 Jax Win)