CALEDONIA — Some teams just know what they’re about, and the Caledonia High School football team is about running the football.
In a 42-21 homecoming win Thursday night against Nettleton, the Cavaliers offense ran for nearly 400 yards. Running back Curtavis Johnson was responsible for just over 250 of those yards, including just under 200 yards and 3 touchdowns during the first quarter.
It was a statement win for the Cavaliers, who simply love the ground game.
““I’m extremely proud of our kids,” Cavaliers coach Michael Kelly said. “It was a short week with the distraction of homecoming and moving the game to Thursday because of the weather, and I thought our kids prepared well all week. I couldn’t have been more proud of our offense setting the tone early, and our defense getting big-time stops early to get this thing under control.”
Despite the early control there were opportunities for the Tigers to get back into the game, and they nearly did early in the second half, but the Cavaliers answered.
“They recovered the onside kick and had the big run and kept fighting,” Kelly said. “I was proud of our team to overcome that adversity as well. We get that extra 14-point cushion, we recovered the next onside kick, and then our offense did what they do. We’re gonna pound that rock on you.”
Johnson went for 70 yards on two plays on the game’s first drive, giving Caledonia a quick 7-0 lead that set the tone for the team and for Johnson, whose big night was just beginning. After the Cavaliers’ defense got a stop, Johnson scored on the first play of the next drive, a 70 yard run.
A huge kick return for the Tigers set them up close to the Caledonia goal line, but again they struggled to move the ball. After the Cavs stopped the Tigers on fourth-and-goal, Johnson got them out of the shadow of their own goalpost, followed by a 40-yard pickup through the air. The next play, Johnson’s fifth carry, was a 34-yard run for his third touchdown of the quarter. With nearly 200 yards on just a handful of carries, Johnson had taken over the game.
Johnson gave the credit to his coaches and offensive line.
“I just came out here and did what I was coached to do,” Johnson said. “Gotta give a shoutout to my O-line; they prepared me and did all the blocking for me. If it weren’t for them, this wouldn’t have been possible.”
Johnson added that although he had a big night, the offense is built to share the wealth.
“We try to open up for everyone,” he said. “In this offense you can’t be selfish at all. Whoever’s night it is, we just do what we do to be disciplined and open things up.”
That’s exactly what happened in the second half. Caledonia’s opening drive of the half ended in a 55-yard TD run by Darrius Triplett on an end around. At 28-0, it appeared that the Cavaliers were well on their way, but it wasn’t over just yet.
The Tigers responded quickly and got their first score of the game on the first play of the next drive, then caught the Cavaliers off guard and recovered an onside kick to get the ball back at the Caledonia 44. The Tigers drove deep, and earned a first-and-goal on a hard fourth-down conversion near the 10.
Running back Roderick Patterson, who scored the touchdown on the previous drive, picked up the key first down after what seemed like a botched play. Quarterback Ty Walton ran it into the end zone on the next play, and the PAT made it 28-14 with plenty of football left.
The Cavaliers went back to what got them their big lead in the first place. Johnson converted a big fourth down at midfield, picking up about 40 yards to set up his team inside the Nettleton 10-yard line. Two plays later, Johnson ran in his fourth TD of the game, and the Cavaliers were feeling more comfortable up 35-14.
After a four-and-out by the Tigers, the Cavaliers went back to pounding the rock. Triplett got his second score of the night on a 47- yard run, and after a late Tigers touchdown, the Cavaliers ran out the clock.
Now 3-1, Caledonia heads to Aberdeen next week before opening district play Oct. 1 against Corinth.
Caledonia 42, Nettleton 21
Caledonia (3-1) 21 0 21 0 — 42
Nettleton (2-2) 0 0 14 7 — 21
First quarter
C — Curtavis Johnson 30 run (kick good), 9:14
C — Johnson 70 run (kick good), 5:26
C — Johnson 34 run (kick good), 1:47
Third quarter
C — Darrius Triplett 55 run (kick good), 9:50
N — Roderick Patterson 52 run (kick good), 9:33
N — Walton 3 run (kick good), 6:47
C — Johnson 6 run (kick good), 3:11
C — Triplett 47 run (kick good), 0:39
Fourth quarter
N — Patterson 9 run (kick good), 2:27
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