North Carolina Football Association (NCFA)

This first wild card game turned out to be much more of a game than expected though in the end it was Salisbury's traditional pass rush and pounding ground game that decided the game.

 

Salisbury got off to a good start taking the opening kickoff and putting three points on the board.  Jarrod Romine setup the first score of the game with a 42yd kick return giving the Popes the ball on the Rocky Mount 46yd line to start the game.  David Harley piled up 18yds on 2 carries and Cleveland Jenkins caught a pass for 16yds but Duane Chandler made the field goal possible by falling on a Van Egger fumble.

 

Rocky Mount 0 at Salisbury 3  (11:01 1st quarter)

 

Rocky Mount came out fighting and quickly moved the ball into Salisbury territory before stalling out.  A good punt pinned the Popes in at their own 2yd line.  On 3rd and 5 Van Egger connected with Cleveland Jenkins for a 74yd pickup moving Salisbury to the Rocky Mount 20yd line.  Then on a 3rd and 1 Egger threw incomplete to league leading receiver Jose Wakeman and then Damon Fox missed a 28yd FG something he never does.

 

Rocky Mount 0 at Salisbury 3  (4:03 1st quarter)

 

Rocky Mount's next drive stalled out after an offensive holding penalty and Salisbury found themselves this time with good field position starting out on their own 30yd line.  The Popes wasted no time and on the first play Egger hit Robert Binder for a 44yd pickup taking Salisbury down to the Leafs 44yd line.  But again the Leafs defense held this time denying a 4th down pass from Egger to Wakeman on a 4th and 2 at the Leafs 7yd line.

 

Rocky Mount 0 at Salisbury 3  (12:40 2nd quarter)

 

After Sam Carter intercepted Van Egger the Popes found themselves again pinned in deep this time starting on their own 6yd line.  This lead to Rocky Mount getting good field position on their next posession and getting their first opportunity for scoring after Sam Achor broke a run for 18yds to the Salisbury 26yd line.  But the Popes defense held and then Tony Edmunds missed a 42yd FG attempt.

 

Rocky Mount 0 at Salisbury 3  (5:08 2nd quarter)

 

The Popes took this as an opportunity to strike and they quickly moved the ball to the Leafs 19yd line on Egger to Wakeman and Binder passes, but this drive came to a quick end when Egger was picked for the second time in the half this time by old pro linebacker Wildon Clark.  This was the last opportunity either team had to score in the half.

 

Rocky Mount 0 at Salisbury 3  (Halftime)

 

The second half started with the Leafs coming out of the gate strong.  They started at their own 30yd line and with key plays from a host of people they capped of their 70yd touchdown drive on a 4yd pass from John Query to Tad Hamm.  Tony Edmunds then missed the extra point.

 

Rocky Mount 6 at Salisbury 3  (9:23 3rd quarter)

 

The Popes immediately responded with three big plays on their next drive.  Egger to Wakeman for 11yds, Egger to James Riviera for 21yds, and then a 19yd David Harley run.  This setup a Damon Fox 27yd FG to tie the score.

 

Rocky Mount 6 at Salisbury 6  (6:14 3rd quarter)

 

A good mix of runs and passes led the Popes into scoring position again on their next posession.  But on 4th and goal at the 1yd line it was old pro linebacker Wildon Clark who put the stop on David Harley and give Rocky Mount the ball back.

 

Rocky Mount 6 at Salisbury 6  (13:00 4th quarter)

 

Rocky Mount surprised everyone by being able to get the ball so deep out of their own territory setup by good running from Bernie Hall then capped with a 34yd run by Sam Achor.  But the pressure pass defense put an end to the Leafs drive and the Popes got their second big return of the day from Jarrod Romine this one a 46yd punt return to give them first down on the Leafs 43yd line.  This time there was no stopping the Popes as they went to wide receiver James Riviera for an 11yd run and the go ahead touchdown.

 

Rocky Mount 6 at Salisbury 13  (6:36 4th quarter)

 

All season long Tad Hamm has been killing teams with kickoff returns and he did it again to start off the Leafs next posession returning the kick 54yds to the Salisbury 44yd line.  But pass pressure forced Query to an intentional grounding and the Leafs were unable to move the ball.  Tiger Pickett would make another good punt this time putting the Popes back on their own 17yd line, but now it was time for the Popes to show everyone in the league why they are 12-0.  Van Egger threw one incomplete pass to Jose Wakemen and then every other play was a run with David Harley finished off with a 17yd TD run.

 

Rocky Mount 6 at Salisbury 20  (1:43 4th quarter)

 

That would be the final score of the game.

 

A look at the stats:

 

Rocky Mount chose to play their season long starting QB John Query despite sustaining a bruised shoulder in their season closer.  He certainly felt the pain of that shoulder as he was sacked 11 times, but played brilliantly going 18/35 for 208yds and 1TD.  Sam Achor was the other big offensive standout for Rocky Mount surprising the Popes for 86yds on only 4 carries, and Tad Hamm had his usual game for the Leafs with 4rec for 48yds and a TD and he gave the Leafs a good shot late in the game with his big 54yd kickoff return.  The defense played well but in the end couldn't handle the power of the Popes and could never put any pressure on Egger getting 0 sacks in the game.  They did manage to pick him twice one for Sam Carter who also had 15 tackles and then other by Wildon Clark who had 6 tackles including one on 4th and goal at the 1.  Both Carter and Clark are ex Popes. 

 

Van Egger had an unusual game for the Popes.  His role with them over the past two seasons has been one of consistency.  Few passes thrown per game, few yards, few mistakes.  Well this game did not follow those lines as he ended up with 279yds on 19/29 passing and threw 2Ints.  David Harley stepped up into the hearts of all the Popes' Roger Dickens fans with 181yds on 26 carries and 1TD.  He was consistent throughout the game, but his drive late in the 4th quarter made him an instant hero to Popes fans.  As always the strenght of the Popes was their defense which had 11 sacks on the game and 6 knockdowns.  There was really no one player that stood out as they all played very solidly across the board.