Rabbs drop inaugural district game to White Oak

Atlanta’s varsity football program entered its first district game last Friday night searching for its first win of the season.

The White Oak Roughnecks suited up for only its second game of the season.

The contest was close but White Oak escaped with a 28-21 win over the Rabbits.

First Quarter

White Oak received the ball to begin the game and despite the ball carriers being destroyed on hits by Quentin Hill; the Roughnecks scored on a 51-yard touchdown pass.

The point after was good and White Oak led 7-0 with 10:52 showing on the clock.

An interception on Atlanta’s first play from scrimmage gave the Roughnecks the ball back at the Rabbits’ 31.

Penalties and big hits by Hill and Trey Adams forced the Roughnecks to punt the ball away at the 8:21 mark.

The punt was a dandy as it pinned the Rabbs at the 2-yard line.

On the second play of the drive quarterback Kameron Dickerson handed the ball off to Terunte Neal.

As Neal was being wrapped up he attempted to pitch the ball back to Dickerson but the ball hit the ground and White Oak fell on it for another touchdown.

The PAT pushed the score to 14-0 with 7:28 left in the first quarter.

Not to be outdone, Neal redeemed himself on the Rabbs’ next drive after he broke loose for a 52- yard gallop into the endzone for a touchdown.

Daniel Hernandez nailed the PAT and the Rabbs were down just 14-7 with 6:47 left in the first frame.

Atlanta’s defense continued to shine as Isaiah Henderson and Keyshawn Easter played lockdown coverage which forced White Oak to punt with 5:57 left in the quarter.

The two teams traded possessions for the rest of the opening quarter.

Atlanta’s ferocious front of Henderson, Hill and Jordan Stiger delivered nice tackles on those drives.

The quarter ended with the Roughnecks facing second-down-and-long.

Second Quarter

White Oak opened the second stanza with a big pass to get within a yard or so of a first down, but a sack by Stiger and a stuffed hit by Hill on fourth down gave the Rabbits the ball back.

Despite great yardage pickups by Neal, Dickerson and La’randion Dowden the Rabbs were forced to punt the ball away with 8:05 left in the first half.

White Oak scored again on a big run play at the 4:40 mark and after the PAT led 21-7.

Stout tackles by Stiger, Adams, D.K. Parker and Logan Shelton shutdown the Roughnecks on its next drive, but the Rabbits failed to put any points on the scoreboard before the half.

Third Quarter

Atlanta regrouped at the break and put together a nice opening drive to begin the second half of play.

Neal and Dickerson were a virtual workhorses on the Rabbs next drive which netted 65 yards in 14 plays.

Dickerson had runs of 29, eight and five and Neal racked up 27 yards including a 2-yard score.

The PAT set the score at 21-14 with 6:39 left in the second half.

White Oak couldn’t move the ball on its next drive and punted the ball back to the Rabbs.

Atlanta’s next drive started out well as Dickerson and Dowden picked up nice yardage, but a snap over the head of Dickerson was recovered near the goal line by White Oak a few plays later.

It only took one play for White Oak to score from the 1-yard line.

After the PAT the Roughnecks increased its lead to 28-14 with 37 seconds left in the third quarter. The quarter ended with Dowden picking up nine yards.

Fourth Quarter

To open the final quarter Justin “Catfish” Pierce, in at quarterback, completed a 28-yard pass to Alijuah Drayton.

Senior running back Kartrez Andrews entered the game and picked up 17 yards on two carries.

Neal finished off the drive with a 1-yard score to cut the deficit to eight.

The PAT set the score at 28-21 with 10 minutes left in the game.

Great plays by Cooper McClure, Adams and Shelton forced White Oak to punt the ball away after a quick three-and-out.

McClure set the Rabbs up in good field position with a nice return to the White Oak 30-yard line on the kickoff but a penalty negated the amazing play.

Nonetheless with the Rabbs working from its own 38 Andrews and Neal went to work.

Andrews picked up eight yards on two carries to begin the drive and then Neal moved the ball into Roughneck country with runs of six yards and 21.

A penalty and a few incomplete passes killed the drive on fourth-and-long a few plays later.

White Oak made a late-game mistake as McClure tipped a pass into the hands of Easter for an interception.

Atlanta had great field position and looked to tie the game with time running out.

Andrews picked up 14 yards on two carries before a penalty backed the Rabbits up to the 26.

Pierce hit Hernandez on a nice pass play down to the 16 but a few plays later the Rabbs faced fourth-and-goal with the game on the line.

The play was set up for Pierce to hit lineman Tyrell King in the endzone but the pass fell short.

White Oak gained possession and kneeled on the ball to end the game.

The Rabbs are in action this Friday night against the Sabine Cardinals on Homecoming night.

Homecoming festivities highlight the week and a queen will be crowned before the contest which is slated to kickoff at 7:30 p.m.