Metro Pulls Away From Perkins 63-28

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a Class 3A battle featuring the top two teams in the district, #3 Metro Christian remained unbeaten with a 63-28 victory over #8 Perkins-Tryon. The final score reads that the Patriots won this game by 35 points but this game was close late in the third quarter and going into the final frame. But the Patriot passing attack, led by senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='38790' first='Kirk' last='Francis'] was too much to overcome and the Metro defense would get key stops and turnovers in the fourth quarter to pull away with the impressive 35-point victory. With the win, Metro Christian improves to 6-0 on the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Metro Christian began the game on offense and would march right down the field behind their strong passing attack, along with several key third down conversions. The drive would end with a Francis touchdown pass to Will Bierman from 13 yards out. That would be the first of six touchdown passes to five different wide receivers for Francis. Metro Christian would then grab all of the momentum as their defense would force a three and out on Perkins-Tryon's first possession, followed by a 47-yard touchdown pass to Mario Darrington on the very next play to go up 14-0 in the blink of an eye. From there, it looked like it would be a Metro blowout but Perkins would climb back in the game a few times throughout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Demons would score the first of three first half touchdowns when quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='463665' first='Tanner' last='Dawes'] found Beck Smith on a 44-yard touchdown less than two minutes after going down 14-0. The Demons would then tie the game early in the second quarter when Dawes found [player_tooltip player_id='393579' first='Cutter' last='Greene'] from eight yards out. Metro would immediately respond with two touchdowns in the span of three minutes with two more Francis touchdown passes. The first went to [player_tooltip player_id='192621' first='Jaxson' last='Grimes'] and the second went to [player_tooltip player_id='442209' first='Breck' last='Nauman']. Things went from bad to worse for Perkins as they would throw an interception on the next possession, followed by another first play touchdown from the Patriots with Francis connecting with [player_tooltip player_id='38802' first='Tagg' last='Campbell'] on a 19-yard touchdown to go up 34-14. However, the Demons would get some momentum going into halftime. They would score on an 18-yard touchdown run from [player_tooltip player_id='231981' first='Tre' last='Stevenson'] and after Metro had two touchdown passes get dropped in the end zone, they would attempt a field goal that was blocked as time expired.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stevenson would add his second touchdown on the night from 14 yards out and all of a sudden, the Demons were within a touchdown as they trailed 34-28 late in the third quarter. And they would continue that momentum with a turnover on the next Metro possession. But they couldn't take advantage as penalties and backbreaking sacks would force a punt. Metro would make sure the Demons never got back in the game from there. Francis found Nauman again right before the end of the third quarter. The Patriots would then tack on three more touchdowns in the final quarter to give the home team a 35-point win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below, we take a look at some of the top performers from both sides of the match-up. While Francis was without a doubt the star of Friday night, there were plenty of other players that also stood out. We break them down below. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>METRO CHRISTIAN TOP PERFORMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["442209"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"After missing last season with an injury, senior wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='442209' first='Breck' last='Nauman'] is making up for lost time with a breakout senior season this year. The dynamic senior has been Metro's leading receiver this season and he led the way again on Friday night. Nauman finished with seven catches for nearly 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns. While his quarterback was getting the ball to just about everyone who lined up at receiver, it was Nauman that led the way in yards and he was the only Patriot to catch more than one touchdown. Nauman is definitely the X-Factor on this Metro Christian offense this season. He provides Francis and the Patriots a deep threat as well as a receiver who can make things happen after the catch. He's already in the middle of having an outstanding season and his stock when it comes to being a college prospect should be on the rise after what he's been able to do through six games.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["38790"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Metro Christian senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='38790' first='Kirk' last='Francis'] is one of the best quarterbacks in the state and more college coaches need to recognize that before Francis signs with a rival and torches them for four years. Francis has just about every throw in the book and he makes it look easy. He has such a good understanding of the offense that he knows where his receivers are going to be at all times. On the night, Francis went 23-41 for just over 400 yards and six touchdowns. And as we mentioned before, it should have been seven touchdowns as not one, but two touchdowns were dropped in the end zone. While the 400 yards and six TD's are no doubt impressive, the thing that stood out on Friday was that five different players caught touchdowns. He distributes the ball to all of his weapons on the Metro offense. Francis is looking more and more like the 2020 version that led Metro to a state title.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["38802"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Arguably the most versatile athlete on the field on Friday night was Metro Christian senior [player_tooltip player_id='38802' first='Tagg' last='Campbell']. The Metro senior has been a player we've watched grow and develop over the last two years and he's making the most of his senior season. Metro Christian uses Campbell in a variety of ways but his future looks to be brightest on the defensive side of the ball when it comes to being a college prospect. Campbell finished with nearly 100 yards on the ground and one rushing touchdown. Granted, he picked up 67 yards on that touchdown on a fourth down play in the fourth quarter. Campbell also had three catches for nearly 50 yards and another touchdown. Campbell was also a standout on the defensive side of the ball with several big hits throughout the night. That's the side of the ball that Campbell will play at the next level, but he gives Metro a Swiss army knife to use on offense as well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>PERKINS-TRYON TOP PERFORMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["393578"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Perkins-Tryon might have come up short on Friday night, but the future is bright moving forward as they have a few 2024 prospects that have incredibly high ceilings and we'll start with speedster [player_tooltip player_id='393578' first='Quincy' last='Mouton']. The junior wide receiver and defensive back was someone that was already on our radar coming into Friday's game and we knew he had serious speed after watching him on film. But then you see it in person and it's something else. Mouton was one of Perkins' leading receivers on Friday night and he also made an impact in the return game on several kick returns. And one of the things that makes Mouton an interesting prospect to watch, especially on the offensive side of the ball, is his strength. He clearly has the speed to be one of the better playmakers in Class 3A, but he also showed multiple times that he can lower the shoulder and break tackles. He's a name to remember in the 2024 class.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["463665"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Leading the Perkins-Tryon offense was senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='463665' first='Tanner' last='Dawes']. And while Metro's QB [player_tooltip player_id='38790' first='Kirk' last='Francis'] grabbed all of the headlines, Dawes had a strong performance, showing that he's an incredibly strong and durable quarterback. He went 16-24 for just over 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also added 40 yards on the ground on 16 carries. Only running back [player_tooltip player_id='231981' first='Tre' last='Stevenson'] (we'll get to him in a minute) had more carries with 17. Dawes is your prototypical high school quarterback who has a good understanding of the offense and didn't make too many mistakes. The Demons use him as an extension of their rushing attack as they called several designed runs for him and he wouldn't just take off and run. Like Francis, Dawes also spread the love to his different wide receivers. Seven different Demons caught a pass from Dawes on Friday night, including two for touchdowns.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["231981"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of the players we were most excited to see was Perkins 2024 running back [player_tooltip player_id='231981' first='Tre' last='Stevenson']. He's a big and physical back that played like it on Friday night. He would finish with just over 100 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. He would also line up and play defense but it was his offense that was getting the job done. He just wasn't able to have as much of an impact against a Metro offense that gets the ball out quickly. Stevenson got Perkins within a touchdown with his second TD on the night. But he only had two carries after that touchdown in the third quarter. That is the most frustrating part of Friday's game. In our opinion, Stevenson was more valuable to the Demons for what he was doing on offense. And we're not on the sidelines so Stevenson might have been limited down the stretch. But he was impressive when he was in the game, wearing down the Metro defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview"} /-->