Souther has record-breaking performance in War Eagles' win

GAINESVILLE – A school-record 98-yard touchdown run by Ben Souther was not the only thing Chestatee fans had to cheer about Friday night.

Souther's run gave Chestatee the lead for good and then the defense took over as the War Eagles avoided their first 0-2 start since 2005 with a 22-12 win over the Knights at War Eagle Stadium.

The War Eagle defense may have been the star of the show holding a potent Johnson attack to just 144 total yards of offense.

The War Eagle defense began the night with its back against the wall in Johnson’s first two possessions. In the first possession, Johnson drove the ball to the War Eagle 29 yard line before linebacker Robby Poole stopped Johnson's Anthony Prophet, on a fourth down run.

Three plays later, Souther fumbled the ball on the War Eagle 13 yard line. But the War Eagles’ defense held the Knights to only four yards in three plays, forcing a 26-yard field goal by Chris Henry for a quick a 3-0 lead for the Knights.

After the two teams traded punts, Chestatee would start its third drive at its own 2-yard-line. Two plays later Souther would take a simple dive play off right guard for 98 yards to give the War Eagles a 7-3 lead.

Souther would finish the night with 152 yards rushing on 16 carries, two touchdowns and as the all-time career rushing leader in Chestatee history.

“Our backs were up against a wall until that long touchdown play gave us the momentum we needed,” Chestatee coach Stan Luttrell said.

The Chestatee defensive would preserve the lead intercepting a Prophet pass near midfield to end the half.

The War Eagle defense began the second half as strongly as it ended the first forcing another Johnson punt. Lamar Brooks would provide the next big play for the War Eagles returning the punt 35 yards to the Knights’ 19. Two plays later Chewning connected with a diving Brooks in the corner of the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown pass, and after two-point conversion, a 15-3 Chestatee lead.

The plays later, however, Johnson would get its offense going when a scrambling Prophet connected with Seth Spivey for a 51-yard touchdown pass. The Knights would miss the extra point to make the score 15-9.

The Knights next big play would come on defense when Caleb Jackson intercepted a Chewning screen pass and returned it to Chestatee 10. But the War Eagle defense stiffened forcing a second Henry field goal as the Knights closed the gap to 15-12.

Souther and the War Eagles wouls seal the win late in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run within the final two minutes.

Luttrell said it was the kind of effort he was looking for two weeks ago in their opener against Gainesville.

“(Friday) our players showed the way to play football, the way to play all four quarters, and the way to play as a team," he said. "This was indeed a good team win and I am proud of th entire team."

Chestatee piled up 342 yards of total offense. Chewning finished with 126 total yards - 95 on the ground and 31 in the air. Junior running back Alex Moore added 61 yards of rushing.

Prophet finished with 88 total yards of offense for Johnson. Prophet was 5-of-16 passing for 77 yards with one TD and one interception but he was held to just 11 yards rushing on 13 carries. Mantevius Rucker managed just 8 yards on 10 carries for the Knights.

Robby Poole had a huge night for the War Eagle defense with 17 tackles. Ed Villeda had 13 tackles, Chandler Farrow added 11 tackles, and Tyler Terry contributed with eight tackles.

(by Robin Parr)