It was a defensive stop Friday night that set the tone for Jacksonville.<\/p>\n
The Cardinals were in a bind, having muffed an early punt to gave Union Pines the ball at Jacksonville\u2019s 27-yard line.<\/p>\n
But the Cardinals responded moments later as senior linebacker Blake Moses recovered a fumble at the 3-yard line \u2013 a stop that led to top-seeded Jacksonville\u2019s 34-7 win over fourth-seeded Union Pines in the fourth round of the NCHSAA 6-A football playoffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kids played lights out,\u201d coach Beau Williams said. \u201cWe just made a couple of plays and forced a couple of turnovers to change the momentum of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
The momentum certainly changed.<\/p>\n
One play after Moses\u2019 recovery, junior Amari Pearson darted 97 yards for a touchdown to give the Cardinals a 7-0 lead. Jacksonville (12-0) never looked back en route to advancing to its second consecutive East Regional final and fifth overall under Williams.<\/p>\n
The Cardinals host third-seeded Middle Creek (10-2), which topped second-seeded Northern Nash 31-24. Union Pines ended 11-2.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew that their defense was really good and that we needed to step up and show who the real defense was,\u201d Moses said. \u201cWe went out there and did what we were supposed to and what we were coached on all week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just how dominating was Jacksonville\u2019s defense?<\/p>\n
The Cardinals allowed just 140 yards of total offense, including a mere 54 in the first half. The Vikings mustered just two first downs in the opening half.<\/p>\n
Union Pines also turned it over four times as seniors Dylan Casebolt and Heavin Mason also had fumble recoveries, and sophomore Domonic Williams had a fourth-quarter interception.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe early stop gave us a lot of momentum, and we carried on that energy all game,\u201d senior defensive end Blair Morrison said. \u201cI think we were more explosive, we got in our gaps and we stayed disciplined.\u201d<\/p>\n
The defense sure did, senior linebacker Avery Apicella said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe heard all the talk going in, but our coaches, Coach Beau, Coach Butch (Rogers) and Coach (Dustin) Johnson had us ready,\u201d Apicella said. \u201cWe knew what was coming and we knew how to handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The solid defense also featured senior defensive backs Jah\u2019quez Robinson and Yondez Baker, senior lineman Quentin Xavier-Burns and Kapono Tuiasosopo-Seiuli, senior linebacker Jackson Henry and junior defensive back Sammie Rogers.<\/p>\n
The effort came one week after the Cardinals allowed 282 yards rushing, including 241 to freshman Mike McLean, in a 35-34 win over Scotland County.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe took that personal, and it drove us,\u201d Xavier-Burns said. \u201cWe were able to come together as a team and stay in our gaps.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jacksonville\u2019s second touchdown was also set up by the defense.<\/p>\n
Henry made a tackle on fourth-and-four at the Jacksonville 43 on a fake punt attempt late in the second quarter. It paved the way for senior quarterback Anthony Washington to score on a 3-yard run with 5.5 seconds left in the first half to make it 14-0.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville made it 21-0 late in the third when Washington found junior SaRonn Thompson for a 13-yard score. Washington then hit senior Jessie James for a 54-yard strike early in the fourth before scoring a 30-yard run to make it 34-0.<\/p>\n
The win, however, was a painful one as Pearson and senior running back Amaree Betton and senior Bradley Ruse all went down with injuries.<\/p>\n
The Cardinals, however, kept going.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew the lord blessed us with another opportunity with that close win last week,\u201d Moses said. \u201cWe knew we couldn\u2019t let it be that close again.\u201d<\/p>\n
And the Cardinals didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Next they prepare for the regional final against Middle Creek, which is in the regional final for the first time since 2016. The Cardinals feel like they have unfinished business after falling in last year\u2019s regional final.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still have to finish it this year,\u201d Apicella said.<\/p>\n