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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

Davie’s JV football team was fearless at the jump – it burst to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter – and it withstood a Mooresville rally to win the season opener 20-12 at home on Aug. 22.

The first score of the season was a picture-perfect deep ball from Draeton Nance to receiver Jayce Bentley, who caught the bomb in stride and sped down the right sideline for a 6-0 lead.

The freshman quarterback had some hiccups (three interceptions), but his big completions were a major reason the War Eagles came away with a win. Nance finished 10 of 18 for 209 yards, including two touchdown passes.

“He’s got to settle down and protect the football, but he’ll be alright,” offensive coordinator Matt Gould said. “He just had some jitters.”

Freshman running back Brandon Forrest made a 27-yard run to the Mooresville 2 to set up his short TD plunge on the last play of the first quarter. Nance converted a two-point run to give Davie the 14-0 advantage.

After a scoreless second quarter, the Blue Devils rallied in the third. They got on the board with a 68-yard run. Their two-point try failed, though, as Easton Sanders intercepted a pass in the end zone.

Mooresville’s next score was aided by a Davie miscue. The snap to the Davie punter was a bouncer and Mooresville took possession at the Davie 32. Moments later, it scored on a 24-yard run. But Davie remained in front, 14-12, as it stuffed a running play up the middle.

Freshman Noah Dulin took the ensuing kickoff all the way to the house, only to see it brought back by a holding penalty. But Davie shook that off and mounted a drive that kept it in control.

On fourth and 6 from the Davie 34, the dual-threat Nance made a huge play with his feet, rolling left to avoid pressure and gaining 19 yards. A 15-yard penalty against Mooresville was tacked on and Nance burned Mooresville with his arm moments later, placing the ball over two defenders and connecting with his brother Dulin for a 24-yard TD with 2:38 left in the third.

Davie failed on the two-point try but had the 20-12 lead.

“(Dulin) is going to be a special player,” Gould said. “He made some big plays.”

The Davie defense took care of the rest. The War Eagles got a turnover on downs at their 31 with 5:42 to go, and after Mooresville intercepted Nance with 4:25 left, the defense came through with another turnover on downs after Mooresville had driven inside the Davie 15.

Davie got the ball with only 2:46 left and Nance’s 30- and 19-yard completions to Bentley nailed down the victory.

“(Nance) sealed the game with those two throws (to Bentley) on the last drive,” Gould said. “He made some great throws. His legs will be a good weapon to have all year. He can create plays out of the pocket, scrambling or running and throwing if they come up. So that will definitely be a huge weapon for us.”

The defense impressed coach Tim Devericks. Remember, one of Mooresville’s two scores came on a short field after the botched punt. Causing havoc on the d-line were sophomores Jathan Redmond, Ean Click, Marcus Fortune and Xzavier Simmons. And freshman Finley Sink’s hair was on fire at linebacker.

“Jathan is a workhorse,” Devericks said. “He was making plays in the backfield. He had a phenomenal game.

“Finley was flying all over the field.”

Offensively, the OL is green, but there’s no shortage of talent at the skill positions. Forrest (50 yards on 10 carries) and Javon Carter rotated at running back, and Bentley turned in 123 yards on three receptions. Nance hooked up with six receivers, including Dulin (two catches for 44 yards), Blake French, Mack Ridenhour, Ian Patton and James Mayfield.

“We have a good group (of skill guys),” Gould said. “We had two running backs play; I think we had five or six receivers get in the game. We’ve got a lot of faith in all those guys.

“We’re starting almost all freshmen up front, but they’re learning and getting better each day. They’re going to be alright.”

Freshmen Carter Cornett and Cannon Smith had INTs, and Redmond recovered a fumble.