Turnovers resulted in missed opportunities for the Apalachee Wildcats in their 43-19 loss to the Clarke Central Gladiators on Friday night. Senior Jody Mathis led the team with 78 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns, one of which was a 95-yard touchdown following his interception. However, his performance was overshadowed by the team’s lackluster play in the second half.
After going down 14-0 early in the first quarter following touchdowns by Jacqua Daniels and Cameron Johnson, Apalachee (0-4) was able to crawl back into the game after an interception by Kent Knowles. Mathis then scored two touchdowns during the remaining of the first half, but a missed extra-point attempt left the Wildcats down 14-13 at halftime.
The 14 points scored by the Gladiators was the lowest point total Apalachee has given up in a first half so far this season. However, despite a great defensive first half, the Wildcats were not able to gain control over the game.
In the second half, the Wildcats recorded five fumbles, three of which they lost. The key fumble of the game came with 9:36 left to go in the fourth quarter when Apalachee was down 28-19, forfeiting its opportunity to bring the game within one possession. From then on, the game belonged solely to the Gladiators.
According to head coach Shane Davis, fatigue played a part in the uninspiring play in second half of the game.
“We were tired early, and I knew we would be,” he said. “When it’s a physical game like that, and you’re exerting yourself over and over and over again, it definitely played a little bit of a factor for our guys tonight. We got tired, and mentally we didn’t play well down the stretch.”
When asked what the team can do to get over its turnovers, Davis explained that the best thing for the team to do is forget about them.
“If you start thinking about it and concentrating on that, then you’re not going to do your other stuff, and then you will turn the ball over,” he said. “It’s like a hitter in baseball. When you strike out, you have to go right back out there and swing again.”
Mathis expressed how this loss will have an even bigger impact on the team than the previous ones.
“It’s going to be hard [to bounce back],” he said. “It’s harder than normal because we actually had a chance this time.”
Another key factor in the game was the missed two-point conversion following the touchdown by Kyle Jackson in the fourth quarter, which also would have brought the team within one possession.
Up next, the Wildcats will be playing away against the Flowery Branch Falcons on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Mariya Lewter 