SEBASTIAN — After winning their district title last week, Sebastian River High School Sharks faced the East Ridge High School Knights in a non-district home game Nov. 9. The game still held special significance.
Just prior to the start of the game, Sharks senior football players, cheerleaders and band members took the field with their parents or guardians in special recognition.
With a slight nip in the air, Knights kicked off to start the game.
Sharks player Shelvick Henry caught the ball and ran it straight up to the Knights 32-yard line but then fumbled, giving East Ridge possession. However, East Ridge was unable to capitalize on the error.
Sebastian River running back Nate Pryor broke the ice with a touchdown midway through the first quarter. With a good point after by Aaron Roberson, it left the score 7 – 0 for the Sharks.
The Knights would leave Sebastian River little time to revel in their lead.
A 42-yard run by East Ridge running back Marcus Watson put the Knights in a solid field position.
Eli Campbell followed through on the drive after catching a short pass and running the ball in for a touchdown. A good point after kick left the score tied 7 -7 with just under six minutes left in the half.
On kickoff, Sebastian River could find nothing but a wall of relentless East Ridge defenders.
On a fourth and inches play, Octavian Jefferson was finally able to break away and gain a first down that started the momentum, pushing the pigskin down the field.
Upping the score 14 -7, Pryor ran in for another touchdown just before the end of the first quarter.
While the Knights tried to get back on the scoreboard, a Henry interception gave the Sharks another chance to take it on the offense. Though it wouldn’t pan out for them, the Sharks kept the ball out of the danger zone.
Pryor, on a punt return, took the ball almost across the goal line. From the second-yard line, left tackle Alexander Stewart ran one in for a touch down.
After a tug-of-war Knights’ possession, a short punt set the Sharks up to take possession at midfield.
Pryor again broke through the East Ridge defense, running the ball into the end zone. However, a foul on the play would take the touchdown away and set the Sharks back five yards.
Trying to make it work again, the Sharks went for a strong yardage pass but were intercepted by Knights defensive player Korian Brady.
Sharks defenders hemmed in East Ridge but a series of penalties against Sebastian River helped move the ball deep into scoring range for the Knights.
Brady ran in for the Knights second touchdown of the night, leaving the score 28 – 14.
With five seconds left in the half, Roberson was able to send the ball 28 yards over the goal post for a field goal.
Going into the half, the score was 31 – 14 with the Sharks enjoying a 17-point lead.
The Knights picked up momentum in the second half the way the Sharks picked up personal fouls.
East Ridge wide receiver Zach Hancock ran it in on a short pass down the sideline. With the scoreboard showing 31 -21, the Sharks took possession.
Sebastian River failed to drive the ball very far down the field before having to punt to East Ridge.
In short order, Sharks defensive player Jovante King intercepted the ball on the 45-yard line.
A series of runs put the Sharks all the way up to the 8-yard line with a first down and goal and set Pryor up to score again.
Within the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, the score was 38 – 21.
Pryor picked off a pass at the goal line for an interception and prevented the Knights from drawing the game closer.
A 55-yard sideline run by Jefferson once again put Sebastian River deep, down the field but the drive ended in a punt.
On the next possession, Knights receiver Will Melson put six more points on the scoreboard with three and a half minutes left in the game.
The game’s fate was sealed when, with less than two minutes on the clock, Sharks receiver Nick Cooper ran in another touch down.
Sebastian River remains on a seven-game winning streak after routing the Knights 45 – 27.
