O’Grady Lifts Fayetteville Past Jefferson City

Secures Fayetteville Win

Fayetteville High School's Dre Greenlaw tries to push past Jefferson City's Rahem Moorman during the first half of Friday nights game at Harmon Field in Fayetteville.
Fayetteville High School's Dre Greenlaw tries to push past Jefferson City's Rahem Moorman during the first half of Friday nights game at Harmon Field in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE — C.J. O’Grady did his best impression of a post-up power forward Friday night at Harmon Stadium, and he picked just the right time.

O’Grady, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound junior tight end/wide receiver, already had hauled in one touchdown pass for Fayetteville when the Bulldogs called upon his services one more time. With Fayetteville clinching to a three-point lead and facing 3rd and goal from the 11, quarterback Mitch Marshall lobbed a sky high pass to the corner of the Harmon Stadium south endzone, where O’Grady waited in jump ball mode.

The Jefferson City defender, standing some six inches shorter, didn’t stand much of a chance, as O’Grady leaped and grabbed the clinching touchdown in a 34-24 Fayetteville win.

“That is a 7-on-7, inside the redzone play that we ran right there,” Bulldogs coach Daryl Patton said. “C.J. made a great catch on a great pass from Mitch.

“It’s going to be an exciting year. We did a lot of great things tonight, but we also hurt ourselves and gave them numerous opportunities and that’s too good of a football team to do that stuff against. But I’m proud of the way our kids fought and clawed all night long.”

Fayetteville (2-0) coughed up three fumbles which directly led to all three Jefferson City touchdowns in the game. But it was two early turnovers by the Jays (2-1) that helped set the tone.

Jake Pridgen fumbled a pass reception on Jefferson City’s third offensive play of the game. Jays’ quarterback Gabe Marcantonio — who finished with 150 yards passing and 133 yards rushing — was then intercepted by Fayetteville junior linebacker Dre Greenlaw on the second drive.

Greenlaw raced 68 yards for a touchdown on the interception, giving the Bulldogs an early 14-0 lead with 4 minutes, 29 seconds still left in the first quarter. And while Jefferson City pulled to within three points late, the early deficit was too much to overcome.

“Our guys showed a lot of heart and we’re just a toughneck football team,” Jefferson City coach Ted LePage said. “But we can’t make the mistakes we did early and expect to win.

“We gave them a 14-0 lead just off pure mistakes of ours, and that’s something we need to correct. But one thing I like about this bunch is we’re real young and we’ll try to correct them.”

EXTRA POINTS:

w Brayden Cook rushed for 133 yards on 24 carries for Fayetteville. On one fourth quarter drive alone with Fayetteville leading 27-17 and trying to run off some clock, Cook — a 5-foot-9, 200-pound junior, rushed seven times for 38 yards. And in the fourth quarter total, Cook totaled 59 yards on 13 carries.

w For the second game in a row, Fayetteville’s biggest problem on defense was slowing down a run-threat quarterback. Jefferson City QB Gabe Marcantonio rushed 22 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns. The Bulldogs have now allowed both opposing quarterbacks to rush for more than 100 yards in the first two games this season.

w Fayetteville broke out new uniform pants in Friday’s home opener. The Bulldogs wore their typical purple jersey tops, but added a new flair with gray bottoms against the Jays.

UP NEXT: Fayetteville hits the road for the first time this season when it visits Muskogee, Okla. next week. The Bulldogs defeated Muskogee, 55-14, at Harmon Stadium last season.

HOW THEY SCORED

JEFFERSON CITY^24

FAYETTEVILLE^34

Jeff^7^3^7^7—^24

Fay^14^6^7^7—^34

First Quarter

Fay — Dennis 21 pass from Marshall (Conway kick), 6:00.

Fay — Greenlaw 68 interception return (Fagg kick), 4:29.

Jeff — Marcantonio 12 run (Bohlken kick), 1:49.

Second Quarter

Jeff — Bohlken 21 FG, 7:40.

Fay — Conway 30 FG, 3:59.

Fay — Conway 46 FG, 1:35.

Third Quarter

Jeff — Pittman 1 run (Bohlken kick), 8:51.

Fay — O’Grady 13 pass from Marshall (Fagg kick), 1:53.

Fourth Quarter

Jeff — Marcantonio 1 run (Bohlken kick), 6:55.

Fay — O’Grady 11 pass from Marshall (Conway kick), 1:59.

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