Clarksville, TN – Run the football and play solid defense.
It is a simple formula for success for the Northeast Eagles and on Friday night in playoff quarterfinal action at Gallatin, the Eagles used it again to overpower the Gallatin Green Wave 27-14.
Dontavious Merriweather and Montrell Pardue provided a potent one-two punch on the ground for the Eagles that the Green Wave could not contain.
It took some big plays by the Eagles defense to stop the Green Waves late momentum and insure the win.
“It was really good when we needed it to. They forced us to cut it back a bunch,” Eagles head coach Isaac Shelby said about his teams running game. “Dontavious did a great job. He put it on the ground too many times, but hey, we are playing in the final four.”
Merriweather made 16 rushes for 157 yards and a touchdown. He also threw a 30-yard touchdown pass and made an interception.
Montrell Pardue rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown. He also completed 2 passes for 29 yards.
The Green Wave’s normally dangerous passing game was severely limited by the Eagles defense.
Quarterback Clay Carnes completed only 6 passes for 64 yards. Carnes was able to produce 37 yards rushing including a 3-yard touchdown run.
With their passing game limited, the Green Wave used a heavy dose of Eric Debow on the ground. Debow had 20 carries for 98 yards. Jordan Mason added 10 carries for 36 yards in the second half.
The Eagles scored first, on their second offensive drive. On the sixth play of the drive, Merriweather spun, juked and sprinted his way 42 yards to the end zone.
On the ensuing Eagles offensive drive it took them only four plays to extend their lead. Pardue dashed 14 yards for the Eagles second touchdown.
The Eagles went up 21-6 with just over 6 minutes left in the third quarter. Benji Burchwell was playing quarterback for the Eagles because Pardue had suffered a minor injury at the end of the first half.
On fourth down in Green Wave territory, Burchwell took the snap, then tossed the ball to Merriweather in the backfield. Next, Merriweather launched a 30-yard bomb to Marquez McCalpin in the end zone.
The Eagles maintained their comfortable lead until Merriweather fumbled the ball and the Green Wave recovered it in Eagles territory with 7 minutes left in the game.
Two plays later Debow punched the ball into the end zone from 9 yards out. A 2-point conversion brought the Green Wave within a touchdown, 21-14 with less than 7 minutes remaining.
Just pass the 2-minute mark. The Green wave had the ball and were facing fourth and 1 on their own 12-yard line. The Eagles defense made the stop and forced the Green Wave to turn the ball over on downs.
Two plays later Merriweather dove one yard for a touchdown, extending the Eagles lead to two scores with a little over one minute remaining.
The Green Waves last attempt to score was a long pass by Carnes that was intercepted by Merriweather.
Next, the Eagles will face the Henry County Patriots in the semifinals.
Box Score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Northeast Eagles | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
| Gallatin Green Wave | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 43 |
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