Cary uses team effort to rebound against Apex

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No better time to do it then the very next Friday night and against your cross-town rivals, the Cougars from Apex High School.

Cary used two fourth quarter turn-overs to get the win and then seal it as they defeat Apex by the 16-12 score.

After the game, Cary Head Coach Ben Kolstad told his team, " A lot of guys stood tall tonight. That was a total team effort."

"Any time you go into Apex, big rivalry here, to come out with a win. That's a big step," said Kolstad after the game.

CHS made the first big step toward the win by putting points on the board in their first drive.

The Imps opened up on their own 20 after a touchback from the opening kick-off.

Running back Deandre Henry opened the drive getting 9-yards on first down. After no gain on second, Quarterback Nick Lansing went over the top to Wide-out Chuboy Umeadi for a 32-yard pass play to mid-field and another first-down.

From there Cary stuck to the ground game as Henry gained 4 on first down pushing the Imps into Apex territory, then Running back RJ Banks broke loose for an 18-yard gain to the Cougars 29.

Following a 3-yard run by Running back Ralph Chapman, it was Henry's turn to bust loose as he scampered 26-yards for the opening score for CHS. Gilfillian's PAT was deflected by the AHS defense and fell short leaving the score at CHS 6, AHS 0 with 8:40 left in the first quarter.

Apex quickly answered the Imps scoring drive with one of their own on their first possession.

A 13-yard pass play between Quarterback Adam Nelson and Wide-out Tremaine Woods for the touchdown culminated a 7-play, 60 yard drive, that took 2:38 off the clock and gave the Cougars a 1-point lead at 7-6 after the PAT was good by Kicker Stephen Weiss.

Just like two fighters in a title fight, each exchange blows. One punches the other counter-punches.

Well after the Cougars through their punch, the Imps punched right back with another scoring drive of their own.

Once again opening their drive from the 20-yard line after the touchback.

Henry (4-yards) and Chapman (8-yards) combined together to get Cary another first down on the first two plays from scrimmage. Henry then charged forward for another 7-yard gain to the CHS39, from there Banks got another first-down with a 5-yard run to the CHS44.

Following a 2-yard run by Banks, and an incomplete pass, Henry got Cary into Cougars territory with a 9-yard run to the AHS45 and first-down.

Chapman moved the ball 8-yards closer with his run up the middle before Banks recorded back to back run for 16-yards, (12-yards n 4-yards), moving the ball deep into the Apex end at the AHS21. Chapman had another 5-yard run to theAHS16 as the 1st quarter came to a close.

Chapman opened the 2nd quarter with back-to-back runs of 3-yards n 2-yards moving the ball to AHS11. From there Banks had a run of 2-yards and then Henry ran for 7-yards putting Cary first-and-goal

from the AHS2. But the Apex defense held the line holding Cary to a field-goal which Kicker Gilfillan hit from 23-yards out giving CHS a 9-7 lead with 8:38 left till half-time.

Neither team was able to put together a scoring drive the remainder of the half as the teams went into the locker room with Cary leading 9-7.

Apex was first to put points on the board thanks to their special team play as Defensive back Darrius McClain blocked a Gilfillan punt that went out the back of the endzone for the safety tying the score at 9 with 5:59 left in the 3rd quarter.

With Apex starting deep in Cary territory, the Cary Defense stood tall and then CHS Defensive End Phillip Ochieng stopped the Apex scoring drive by recovering a fumble by Nelson at the CHS42, but the Imps was unable to convert the turn-over into points and had to punt it away.

Apex once again started deep in Imps territory after a bobbled punt attempt leaving the Cougars to start their drive at the CHS27.

Once again the Cary defense stood tall holding the Cougars only to a 39-yard field goal as the 4th quarter came to a start with Apex now leading 12-9, with 11:54 left in the game.

Unfortunately for the Imps, the Cougars defense came up big on their next drive stopping Cary on 4th-and-goal on the AHS2 with 5:45 left in the game.

This was definitely the half for the defenses as once again it was Cary's defense coming up big.

After rushing for a first-down to the AHS27, Running back Shaun Knox coughed the ball up and Linebacker Joshua Stewart was there to pounce on the ball for the Imps putting them back for an opportunity to win the game.

This time the CHS offensive made the turn-over count as they put the winning points on the board.

And Cary put it all on the shoulders of Banks as he carried every play of the 5 play drive running 29 yards the final yard for the go ahead touchdown. Banks had runs of 14, 2, 7, 5, and 1-yard. Gilfillan hit the PAT giving CHS a slim 4-point lead at 16-12.

But the game wasn't sealed until Defensive back Gideon Akinsola stepped in front of a Nelson pass attempt at the CHS42 and returned it back 7-yards to midfield.

Cary got one more first down then ran out the clock on their 16-12 victory over the Apex Cougars.

Final Stats:

Cary -  6   3   0   7  - 16
Apex - 7   0   2   3  - 12

Scoring Summary:

1st - 08:41 CHS - Henry, D. 26-yard run (Gilfillan, W. kick failed)
                                                               6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:19, CHS 6 - AHS 0
        06:02 AHS - Woods, T. 13-yard pass from Nelson, A. (Weiss, S. kick)
                                                              7 plays, 60 yards, TOP 2:38, CHS 6 - AHS 7
2nd - 08:38 CHS - Gilfillan, W. 23-yard field goal
                                                            19 plays, 75 yards, TOP 9:24, CHS 9 - AHS 7
3rd - 05:59 AHS - Team Safety

4th - 11:54 AHS - Weiss, S. 39-yard field goal
                                                             5 plays, 5 yards, TOP 1:37, CHS 9 - AHS 12
         01:25 CHS - Banks, RJ 1-yard run (Gilfillan, W. kick)
                                                            5 plays, 29 yards, TOP 2:06, CHS 16 - AHS 12

                                                                              CHS                                   AHS

FIRST DOWN                                                          22                                      10
          Rushing                                                        19                                       6
          Passing                                                           3                                       4
          Penalty                                                           0                                       0
Rushing Attempts                                                   57                                      19
Yards Gained Rushing                                            358                                     77
Yards Lost Rushing                                                 31                                      26
NET YARDS RUSHING                                            327                                     51
NET YARDS PASSING                                              95                                     119
          Passes Attempted                                         11                                      21
          Passes Completed                                          4                                        9
          Had Intercepted                                             0                                       1
TOTAL OFFENSIVE PLAYS                                       68                                      40
TOTAL NET YARDS                                                 422                                    170
          Average Gain Per Play                                  6.2                                     4.2
Fumbles: Number-Lost                                            0-0                                     2-2
Penalties: Number-Yards                                      12-90                                   4-30
Number of Punts-Yards                                          1-0                                     3-115
          Average Per Punt                                         0.0                                     38.3
Punt Returns:                                                         2-13                                   1-19
Kickoff Returns: Number-Yards                              0-0                                     3-33
Interceptions: Number-Yards                                 1-7                                      0-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yards                              0-0                                     0-0
Miscellaneous Yards                                                  0                                        0
Possession Time                                                    33:57                                 14:03
Third-Down Conversion                                        8 of 13                                3 of 8
Fourth-Down Conversion                                     0 of 2                                  0 of 0
Red-Zone Scores-Chances                                    2-4                                       1-1
Sacks By: Number-Yards                                        0-0                                      1-11

Individual Stats:

Rushing -                                 D. Henry - 23 for 169, 1 TD          S. Knox - 13 for 65
                                             RJ. Banks - 19 for 128, 1 TD        C. Owens - 2 for 8
                                             R. Chapman - 11 for 49                A. Nelson - 4 for -22
                                             N. Lansing - 3 for -3
                                             W. Gilfillan - 1 for -16

Passing -                               N. Lansing - 4 for 11, 95           A. Nelson - 9 for 21, 119, 1 INT

Receiving -                              R. Chapman - 2 for 55                 D. Lassiter - 3 for 55
                                            C. Umeadi - 1 for 32                    T. Woods - 3 for 43, 1 TD
                                            RJ. Banks - 1 for 8                       M. Hayes - 2 for 14
                                            C. Owens - 1 for 7