Middle Creek’s defense, special teams helps beat Holly Springs football
Holly Springs came as close as anyone to taking down the mighty Mustangs of Middle Creek.
The Mustangs upped their record to 8-0 on the season with a 31-21 win over the host Golden Hawks Friday to remain atop the Southwest Wake Athletic Conference standings at 4-0.
One reason for the Mustangs’ success has been a stifling defense that entered Friday coming off back-to-back shutouts. But against Holly Springs (4-4, 2-2), it wasn’t the way that defense shut down the opposition but rather how it put up points of its own.
Nursing a 24-14 lead early in the fourth quarter and with the Hawks threatening at the Middle Creek 10-yard line, Johnathan Spencer picked off a Holly Springs pass and scampered 90 yards to paydirt for a 31-14 lead that all but secured the win.
“Everybody’s just been making plays and it’s been working out for us,” said Spencer.
Earlier in the game it was John Singleton who scooped up a loose ball after a blocked punt and took it in from 10 yards out to give the Mustangs a 21-0 second-quarter lead.
But Holly Springs’ Tray Staten refused to be shut down, rushing for 171 yards a pair of touchdowns that included a 67-yard score on the first play of the second half that trimmed the deficit to 24-14 before Spencer’s big play.
“When you’re playing a great team, you have to play a perfect game and we didn’t do that,” Holly Springs coach Robert Furth said.
Turning point
Spencer picked off a screen pass and jolted 90 yards up the sideline on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 17-point cushion. It’s his second pick-six in as many weeks.
They said it
“I joke with them that if they score twice and don’t give up any points we’re going to win every Friday night.” – Middle Creek coach Randy Ragland on his defense.
Three who mattered
Dominique Shoffner, Middle Creek: The quarterback completed 17 of 32 passes for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also picking up 44 yards on the ground.
Tray Staten, Holly Springs: The senior running back carried 29 times for 171 yards and two touchdowns, including a 67-yard score.
Jackson Baum, Holly Springs: The defensive back had an interception and a fumble recovery for the Golden Hawks.
By the numbers
9: Consecutive quarters without surrendering a point by Middle Creek’s defense until Broderick Taylor’s second-quarter touchdown catch.
8: Number of Middle Creek receivers to catch a pass Friday.
25: Pass attempts by Shoffner in the first half alone.
This story was originally published October 9, 2015 at 10:33 PM with the headline "Middle Creek’s defense, special teams helps beat Holly Springs football."