What We Saw: Northwestern Dominates Byrnes In 42-3 Rout

The story of the second round of the 5A Upper State playoff matchup between Northwestern and Byrnes was all about the Trojan defense. They came to play and harassed Rebels QB Gabe Rogers with a fierce pass rush and holding an offense that was averaging 38 points per game to just 3 points in a 42-3 rout on Friday night. Let’s get into notes and standouts from the contest: Northwestern <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" aria-level="1">QB [player_tooltip player_id="89316" first="Will" last="Mattison"] (<a class="waffle-rich-text-link" href="https://twitter.com/Will1Mattison">@Will1Mattison)</a> – The senior earned his first offer from Limestone University on Wednesday night and he followed it up with an excellent performance, throwing for 253 yards. One thing that was impressive was how he excelled in throwing the mid screens. He faked out the defense and this writer, as he found a wide open Drennon Faile <a href="https://twitter.com/DrennonFaile">(@DrennonFaile)</a> on the goal line for a touchdown to begin the second quarter. He also connected with [player_tooltip player_id="146372" first="Elijah" last="Caldwell"] <a class="waffle-rich-text-link" href="https://twitter.com/7Caldwell_">(@7Caldwell_)</a> and [player_tooltip player_id="89332" first="Christian" last="Watkins"] <a class="waffle-rich-text-link" href="https://twitter.com/GerellWatkins">(@GerellWatkins)</a> on three touchdowns in the second half. The final one to Caldwell came on a beautiful spiral.</li> </ul> We asked Mattison about having all of the receiver talent they have on offense. <blockquote>“It’s awesome, man. They’re all my brothers. None of them are selfish. I could throw it to one guy for this many times and not a single one would complain so I mean, I love having them. My o-line is amazing, the whole team, it’s awesome,” Mattison told Prep Redzone SC.</blockquote> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">RB Turbo Richard <a class="waffle-rich-text-link" href="https://twitter.com/TurboRichard1">(@TurboRichard1)</a> – Out of the two times we’ve seen Richard play, Friday may have been his best performance. He runs hard with great speed and once he hits the hole, he can make something happen. He had a 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, finishing with 53 yards on the night. </li> </ul> The game was essentially over when Byrnes failed to score after having first and goal at the two yard line and had to kick a field goal in the second quarter. It was that kind of night for the Northwestern defense. <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">DE Isaac McClellan <a class="waffle-rich-text-link" href="https://twitter.com/isaac_mclellan">(@isaac_mclellan)</a> – McClellan was relentless in his pursuit of Byrnes QB Gabe Rogers and he had a sack on the Rebels second drive of the contest. He also showed good discipline on a reverse in the third quarter. He continues to show great strength in being able to defeat blocks.</li> </ul> <blockquote>“They did a great job. Coach Donato and his staff … they put a lot of work in every week and they go against a pretty good offense every week in practice so hopefully some of the things we were showing them this week and we try to do a good look and talk about some things and really did a pretty good job of shutting down and shutting up a pretty good offense,” Northwestern coach Page Wofford told Prep Redzone SC.</blockquote> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">LB Emmaunel Anderson – Anderson was active at his linebacker position throughout the evening. We noticed one play in the first quarter where he recognized the outside run quickly and cut off the runner before he could turn the corner. He nearly had a pick six in the third quarter.</li> </ul> Byrnes <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">QB Gabe Rogers – It was a tough night for Rogers but one highlight we saw was where he connected with [player_tooltip player_id="194225" first="Thomas" last="Gregory"] for a 26-yard completion on a screen on 3rd down in the second quarter.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">WR [player_tooltip player_id="194225" first="Thomas" last="Gregory"] – Gregory can stretch the field and he displayed that on a go route in the third quarter. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">DB/WR Bryson Landrum – If it was one bright spot for the Byrnes defense on the night, it was Landrum’s interception in the third quarter. He looked the ball right into his hands and helped the Rebels gain a little bit of life.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">DL Aaron Taylor – Taylor came untouched in the first quarter, recording a sack on a passing situation.</li> </ul> Other notes and observations <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Byrnes K Jacob Canon knocked through a field goal to avoid the shutout in the second quarter.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Northwestern DB Tay McCrorey made an incredible interception right near the Trojan bench that ignited the sideline. It was an interception where he showed great concentration in recording his first interception of the season.</li> </ul> <blockquote>“I saw the wheel coming, dove for it (and) caught it. We knew we were better than them so we just had to prove it,” McCroey told Prep Redzone SC.</blockquote> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Northwestern DB Zi’Anthony Whitlock recorded a fumble recovery in the first quarter and JeMarr Perry recorded an interception in the fourth quarter to close the game out.</li> </ul>