Darts Quarterback Jackson Stevens leads the Darts to a fifth straight win and stays undefeated at home on the season. Stevens throws four touchdown passes and leads an offense with over 500 total yards. A final defensive stand completed a Dart victory in this high-scoring game.
Darts start fast and use big plays in the first quarter
The Darts started its scoring after executing a perfect fake punt pass and a double pass play on their opening drive. Josh Barker scored on a two-yard touchdown run to give the Darts a 7-0 lead. The Silverwolves started the game slowly with incompletions and were not able to move the ball against the Dart’s defense. The Dart’s second possession of the quarter ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Stevens to Tyson Elkins. Elkins played an outstanding game with a game-high 12 catches and 173 receiving yards. The Silverwolves’ next possession ended with a blocked punt by Dart’s Cam Wilson. The Darts scored a few plays later and took control of the game on a Stevens to Elkins 20-yard touchdown pass and catch to make the score 14-0.
Silverwolves use Darts turnover to even score at halftime
In the second quarter, both teams combined for 52 points and the Silverwolve’s offense started to put together drives. Silverwolves quarterback Jake Myers started the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run with 8:52 left in the second quarter. On the Dart’s next possession Stevens found receiver Easton Baggett on a slant that he took 91 yards for a touchdown. This touchdown made the score 21-7 in favor of the Darts. With 6:32 left in the second quarter, Silverwolves defender Wyatt Brown intercepted a Stevens pass and returned it for a 68-yard touchdown.
The following drive for the Darts ended with Stevens throwing his third touchdown pass of the half, 37 yards to Kaden Eggett to make the score 28-14. The Silverwolves responded with the next two touchdowns to even score 28. The first score was a screen pass to running back Easton Hicks, who took it 80 yards for the touchdown. The next score was Myers finding receiver Logan Dunfield for a four-yard touchdown pass and catch.
The Dart’s next drive before halftime finished with Stevens finding Eggett for an 18-yard touchdown for a 35-28 lead. The Silverwolves responded on their next possession into Dart territory and end with a 24-yard field goal by Dylan Turville. The first half ended with a score of 35-31 lead for the Darts.
Darts hang on in the second half for the win
The only score in the third quarter came on a Barker two-yard touchdown run with 6:17 left. Barker’s second touchdown of the game made the score 42-31.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Myers found Owen Barton for a 52-yard touchdown. This score cut the Dart’s lead to 42-38 with 11:13 left in the game. Davis quickly responded on their next possession with Stevens finding Eggett for their third touchdown in the game. This score was a 44-yard touchdown making the score 49-38.
The teams continue to exchange touchdowns with Silverwolve’s David Ratliff scoring on a three-yard pass. The Darts Barker scored his third rushing touchdown of the game on a six-yard run. The final score of the game was an 18-yard pass reception by Ratliff to make the score 55-50. The two-point conversion point attempt failed.
The Silverwolve’s defense stopped the Darts to get possession back with less than two minutes remaining in the game. The Dart’s defense needed to make a final stop to secure the victory, and they did with two big sacks by standout performer Cam Wilson.
What they said
“They had a good offense,” said senior team captain Palmer Gardiner. “And number five is a great player for them.” Number five is Silverwolves back Easton Hicks. “Play for one another,” said Gardiner. “TLCN, trust love compete no excuses,” said Gardiner. “Is what we play by.”
“Everyone working together was the key,” said Eggett. “And winning games we are predicted to lose is nice.”
Next game
The Darts travel to play the Skyridge Falcons on Friday, Nov. 4 in a state quarterfinal matchup.
Outstanding performers
Davis had quarterback Stevens pass for 453 yards and 4 touchdowns. Baggett had 161 receiving yards, Elkins 173 receiving yards, and Eggett 123 receiving yards. The defense saw Jacob Faerber total a game-high 17 tackles. Defensive back Damon Brown totaled 10 tackles and play outstanding coverage on the Silverwolves receivers. Defensive end Cam Wilson’s relentless play contributed to two and a half sacks on the night. Jordan Taula nabbed two sacks for the Darts. Gage Butler led the kicking game with a perfect seven for seven on extra points.
The Silverwolves had outstanding performances from Hicks, Myers, and Dunffield.
Photo courtesy Kim McFadden IG: @kmacphotographyy of Jordan Taula, Palmer Gardiner, and Cam Wilson
More pictures at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/9m0wp5mqct8t1zaxjecoi/h?dl=0&rlkey=yn8c77po24iotyvfrcvq55kro