Dominant running game lifts Enterprise past Carver

The Enterprise Wildcats (1-0) got 2020 off to a positive start as they pounded their way to a 35-19 win over the Carver-Montgomery Wolverines (0-1) on Aug. 28.

The Wildcats piled up 290 yards on the ground as junior quarterback Quentin Hayes led the rushing attack with 136 yards on 15 carries in his first career start under center. The Enterprise defense also did its part by forcing three Carver turnovers and holding the Wolverines scoreless for nearly three quarters. 

Enterprise threw a number of offensive formations at Carver who struggled to contain the Wildcat rushing attack throughout the night. The Enterprise defense also brought a lot of pressure throughout the game to force the Wolverine passing game to never get too comfortable. 

However, Carver actually got the scoring started on a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Marquarius Moore to receiver Carl Hopkins to put the Wolverines up 7-0 with 8:37 left in the opening quarter. Carver was able to keep the drive going after what seemed to be a quick three-and-out when Hopkins faked a punt and picked up 21 yards on fourth-and-long.

On Enterprise’s ensuing drive, the Wildcats pounded away at Carver on an 11-play, 55-yard drive that was capped off by senior athlete Josh McCray’s 1-yard touchdown plunge. The PAT tied the score up 7-7 with 3:00 left in the first quarter.

Enterprise then attempted an onside kick but Carver managed to recover it and quickly drove inside the Enterprise red zone. Wildcat safety Tysen Cole made an acrobatic interception, though, and snuffed out the drive.

The Enterprise offense went three-and-out and then Carver drove down the field again. The Wolverines opened the second quarter with a 5-yard touchdown run with 11:55 left in the first half. Enterprise managed to block the PAT to make Carver’s lead 13-7.

Enterprise again marched down the field and McCray punched in a 10-yard touchdown run to put Enterprise ahead 14-13, after the PAT, with 8:37 left in the half.

After an LZ Leonard sack dropped Carver for a 15-yard loss, the Wolverines punted and Enterprise again got into the Wolverine red zone after McCray turned a screen pass into a 35-yard catch-and-run down to the 1-yard line.

McCray scored his third touchdown of the half on a 1-yard run just two plays later to extend Enterprise’s lead to 21-13 with 2:50 left in the first half.

On Carver’s very next play, junior Enterprise cornerback Marshawn Fitzpatrick stepped in front of a Moore pass to secure the interception and a few plays later Mykel Johnson extended the Wildcat lead to 28-13 on a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:08 left in the half.

Enterprise linebacker Jackson Blount recovered a Carver fumble on the ensuing drive but the Wildcats missed a 34-yard field goal as time expired in the half.

Enterprise compiled 172 yards on the ground in the first half and Hayes was responsible for 99 of those yards.

Hayes didn’t waste any time getting going in the second half either as he raced 47 yards down to the 6-yard line as the second half opened. Johnson then punched in a 6-yard touchdown with 10:40 left in the third quarter to extend Enterprise’s lead to 35-13.

The Wildcat defense smothered Carver for much of the second half, while the Enterprise offense chewed up clock but also had a number of drives snuffed out by mistakes.

After giving up two first quarter touchdowns, the opportunistic Wildcat defense held the Wolverines scoreless until the last minute of the game. Carver managed to score one final touchdown on a 1-yard run with 36 seconds remaining, but Jaylon Webster blocked the PAT to make the final score 35-19 in favor of Enterprise.

“I thought offensively we did some good things but I think our problems came when we just dropped the snap and they weren’t even bad snaps,” Enterprise coach Rick Darlington said after the win. “We had a couple of dropped snaps and that’s disappointing because that’s a lack of focus.”

Darlington pointed to the dropped snaps, blown coverages and a roughing the kicker penalty late in the game as things that come as a result of a lack of focus.

“When you have those sorts of let downs in a close game it can cost you the game,” Darlington said. “The only thing I was disappointed in was those mental breakdowns at points in the game that cost us drives and gave the other team points.

“Now, the good is that we didn’t turn the ball over and we came back twice from deficits and didn’t panic. We played better in the second half than we did the first half, too.”

Along with his big night on the ground, Hayes completed 4-of-7 pass attempts for 68 yards, as well. Darlington said that he expects to see even more out of his signal-caller as the season progresses.

“We really kept it simple with him tonight,” Darlington said. “As the year goes on we’ll do more and more stuff with him because he’s a talented dude.”

McCray finished the game with 39 yards and three touchdowns on 10 rushing attempts. He also caught two passes for 34 yards. Johnson rushed for 38 yards and two touchdowns along with 22 yards receiving.

“We have a bunch of (running backs) and we have some depth there, and they say competition is the best coach,” Darlington said of his backfield. “That’s one area I think we have a little bit of depth at.”

In total, Enterprise rolled up 358 yards of total offense and didn’t turn the ball over, while Carver totaled 373 yards but turned the ball over three times.

The Wildcat defense was led by senior LZ Leonard with 10 tackles, one sack and a pass breakup. Jaylon Webster also had seven tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, three pass breakups and blocked PATs. Blount recorded seven tackles, two tackles-for-loss, one sack, three quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Cole secured eight tackles and an interception. 

Enterprise will travel to region foe Dothan next week.