Cats dominate Tornadoes in season opener

The Enterprise Wildcats (1-0) opened the 2021 season up in dominating fashion with a 57-21 win over the Bay Tornadoes (0-1) from Panama City, Fla. on Aug. 20.

Those 57 points are the most points scored by an Enterprise team since 2013 and the Wildcats wasted no time getting started. Enterprise jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, but it was the Wildcat defense that set the tone.

On the very first play from scrimmage, Enterprise safety Keion Dunlap intercepted a Bay pass setting the Cats up in Bay territory right off the bat. Just two plays later, Enterprise sophomore Amare Griffin scored on a 29-yard touchdown run. Not only was it his first career touchdown but it was his first career carry, as well. There would be much more where that came from. After a failed two-point try Enterprise led 6-0 with 11:06 left in the first quarter.

On Bay’s next possession, senior cornerback Marshawn Fitzpatrick jumped a receiver’s route and intercepted another Bay pass near midfield and returned it 30 yards to the Bay 15-yard line. A few plays later, sophomore quarterback/tight end Wyatt Darlington threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to junior running back Mykel Johnson to extend the lead to 12-0 with 8:36 left in the first quarter. Johnson converted a two-point try to extend the Wildcat lead to 14-0.

Bay finally managed a first down on its next possession but was forced to punt and a few plays later Griffin scored on a 16-yard run to extend Enterprise’s lead to 21-0 with 3:30 left in the opening period.

After a quick three-and-out for the Wildcat defense, Bay’s punter kicked the football into a teammate giving Enterprise the ball in the Tornado red-zone. Three plays later, Griffin scored his third touchdown of the first quarter on a 9-yard run with 10 seconds left in the opening quarter to put Enterprise ahead 28-0.

“I think we jumped on them pretty quick,” Enterprise coach Rick Darlington said after the game. “The first play of the game the defense gets a pick and sets us up in great field position. We jumped on them pretty hard and when you’re up 28-0 it’s hard to keep battling like that.”

Enterprise running back Sam Whitaker scored on a 15-yard touchdown run in the second quarter along with a 6-yard touchdown run by Johnson to give Enterprise a staggering 42-0 lead at halftime. In all, Enterprise had six possessions in the first half and scored on all six of those possessions.

The fired up Enterprise defense was just as dominant allowing a grand total of 22 total yards in the entire first half and forcing three turnovers. Along with the interceptions by Dunlap and Fitzpatrick, sophomore linebacker Marzavious Reed recovered a Bay fumble, as well.

In the second half, Enterprise emptied its bench playing as many players as possible. Bay managed to score three touchdowns in the second half but the Wildcat’s JV and freshmen players also scored two touchdowns. Sophomore Raymond McGoley scored on a 17-yard touchdown run, while Tomorris Green threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Josiah Soles.

For the game, the Enterprise offense rushed for 340 yards and put up a total of 415 yards. Griffin led the way with 96 yards and three touchdowns on just six rushing attempts for an eye-popping 16 yards per carry. Griffin also returned three kickoffs for 92 yards.

“He’s a talented dude and he’s young, only a sophomore,” Darlington said of Griffin. “We’re glad he’s on our team.”

McGoley also rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, while Johnson rushed for 41 yards and a touchdown on five carries along with one catch for 22 yards and a touchdown.

“We played everybody,” Darlington said. “We played the JV, we played the freshmen, we played everybody. It was a good win.”

Bay totaled 259 yards of offense with 237 yards and all three touchdowns coming in the second half.

The Enterprise defense was led by sophomore linebacker Johntavious Hooten with eight tackles, two tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble, while fellow sophomore linebacker Marzavious Reed filled up the stat sheet with seven tackles, one tackle-for-loss, one sack, one pass breakup, three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. Defensive tackle Duwane Buckner chipped in with six tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks.

“I know (defensive coordinator Jed Kennedy) doesn’t want to give up those points in the second half but I’d rather give up points and look a little sloppy but get to play everybody that practices and works so hard all summer and all year round,” Darlington said. “I’d rather do that than just go out there to score more points and try to get a shutout. It’s not about the stats, it’s about the young men getting a chance to play.

“Most games they don’t get that chance because with the schedule we play we have a lot of really tough games. I hope those guys had a good time and I hope their parents enjoyed watching them. It was a good night for the Wildcats.”

Starting Enterprise quarterback Quentin Hayes was cleared to play following an offseason ankle injury but the Wildcats held him out after getting the big lead. Hayes only played on special teams – holding for extra points – but he did get in some action when a bobbled snap on a PAT led Hayes to scramble and pick up a two-point conversion.

“He was cleared and could have played if we needed him to and we were going to use him but we jumped out ahead so fast I figured why risk it and he understands that,” Darlington said.

Bay was led by quarterback Will Smiley with 167 yards and three touchdowns passing along with two interceptions and 48 yards rushing. Almost all of Smiley’s yardage game in the second half. Receiver Jacques Lee caught five passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.