NORTH AUGUSTA — The North Augusta Yellow Jackets’ defense stopped Evans’ running back RayShaun King in the backfield with no time on the clock, securing the 14-7 win in the season opener on Friday, Aug. 18.
North Augusta hosted Evans and both Knights and Yellow Jackets’ fans packed out the stadium. This is the second straight year Evans and North Augusta have met in the season opener, but last year the Yellow Jackets lost 16-7 against the Knights.
Similar to last year, the game would be a defensive slugfest with both teams failing to score through one quarter.
The Yellow Jackets were the first team to gain momentum with an interception that was returned inside the Knights 30-yard-line.
North Augusta quarterback Dimitri Mobley put the Yellow Jackets on the board first with a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Noah Wyatt. Kicker Tyler Nichols converted the extra point for the Yellowjackets to make the score 7-0 with 10:26 left in the second quarter.
Evans answered back immediately with a 60-yard touchdown run by king. Kicker Tyler Wallace added the extra point to tie the game 7-7.
Neither team scored the rest of the first half, and both defenses continued to stand tall through most of the third quarter.
The Knights drove the ball inside the Yellow Jackets’ 5-yard-line, but Cam Hallingquest recovered his second fumble of the night as Evans lost all momentum with another fumble.
North Augusta gave themselves the 14-7 lead with a 74-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter by Mobley.
Evans got one final chance, driving with under a minute to go to the North Augusta 20-yard-line.
The game would be stopped for about 30 minutes after North Augusta cornerback Walker Robinson collided with a teammate with 19 seconds left in the game in what seemed to be a neck injury. Members of both teams showed respect by taking a knee during the delay.
Evans quarterback Tripp Furgesion threw a 19-yard pass to get the Knights inside the Yellow Jackets 3-yard line. The Knights attempted to run the ball with King, but he would be tackled for a loss to end the game.
North Augusta (1-0) will look to keep the winning streak alive as the travel to play the Dorman Cavaliers on Friday, Aug. 25. Evans (0-1) will travel to play region rival Greenbrier (0-1) in their next game on Friday, Sept. 1.
Christopher Rickerson, an Augusta University graduate, has covered area sports for Augusta University, The Augusta Press and Augusta Good News. Subscribe to the Augusta Good News newsletter here.
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The North Augusta coach and the defense didn’t take a knee coach used the time to review the play with a board. The Evans team eventually took a knee after there fan holler for them to keel. The coach should be ashamed of his action no respect for the injured player.