Rountree rushes Millbrook past Knightdale
This victory was a little easier on the nerves for Millbrook football coach Clarence Inscore.
After rallying for a narrow victory over East Wake last week, the host Wildcats led the entire way Friday on their way to a 42-20 victory over Knightdale in a nonconference football game.
Larry Rountree rushed for 204 yards and four touchdowns, and quarterback Reid Herring passed for a touchdown and also ran for a score for Millbrook (2-0).
Knightdale quarterback Andre Willis rushed for two touchdowns and also passed for a touchdown for the Knights (1-1), who were blanked in the second half after drawing within 28-20 just before halftime on a 2-yard touchdown run by Willis.
Turning point
A Willis touchdown run early in the second quarter drew Knightdale within 14-8 and the Knights had a chance to build momentum on Millbrook’s ensuing possession when they forced the Wildcats into a fourth-and-2 situation at their 41. However, Knightdale’s defense was drawn offsides – the 5-yard penalty giving Millbrook a first down –and on the next play the Wildcats struck for a 54-yard touchdown pass from Herring to Cody Lane for a 20-8 lead with 8:55 to go in the first half.
They said it
“We just talked about finishing plays,” Inscore said. “I thought in the first half we were in position a number of times and didn’t put the running back or the quarterback on the ground. Second half we did a much better job of cleaning things up. I was proud of the way our defense settled down.”
Three who mattered
Larry Rountree, Millbrook: The junior running back tallied 165 of his 204 rushing yards in the first half, including a 53-yard touchdown run that put the Wildcats ahead 7-0 just 2 minutes, 30 seconds into the game.
Reid Herring, Millbrook: The senior was 10-for-19 passing for 168 yards. His 30-yard pass to Isaiah Bowman on fourth-and-12 midway through the fourth quarter set up Rountree’s final touchdown that sealed the win.
Andre Willis, Knightdale: The senior quarterback completed his first seven passes, finishing 8-for-13 for 87 yards and also rushed for a team-high 45 yards for the Knights.
By the numbers
1: Number of times Millbrook punted in the game. The Wildcats scored on their first four possessions.
3: Number of touchdowns scored in a wild span of 1:59 late in the second quarter, two of them by Knightdale.
83: Penalty yards by Knightdale, including a 15-yard pass interference penalty that helped set up Millbrook’s first touchdown of the second half.
This story was originally published August 28, 2015 at 10:17 PM with the headline "Rountree rushes Millbrook past Knightdale."