Bulldogs advance to state semifinal

Sat. November 19, 2011 at 12:43 a.m. | By Mike Duprez

BY MIKE DUPREZ
The Dispatch

THOMASVILLE | Shaquan Johnson’s right ankle was finally pretty much shot. His heart, however, was as resolute as ever — and, as the Beatles would have said, he got a little help from his friends.
Make that a lot of help.
Quindale Williams returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter and hauled in two crucial interceptions as Thomasville rallied to beat Salisbury 27-16 in the third round of the 2-A state playoffs Friday night at Cushwa Stadium.
The Bulldogs (10-4) will face Lincolnton for the Western Regional championship next Friday in Lincolnton.
Sophomore quarterback Shakeem Peterson ran for a touchdown and threw for another to tight end Jaleel Rogers, who was also a stalwart at linebacker. Even while playing injured, Johnson still managed 97 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries.
“I was thinking it was time to step up,” Peterson said. “We can’t be a one-player team. Quanny (Johnson) told me, ‘It’s time to step up. It’s your turn.’ We never quit. We never quit.”
It was yet another other-worldy performance for Williams, who touched the ball twice and scored two touchdowns in last week’s 28-16 win over Wilkes Central in the second round.
“I’m human just like everybody else,” Williams said. “I come out and practice hard and play hard. I just come out and play. I see the ball and go get it.”
The celebration was boisterous. Offensive coordinator Dickie Cline bear-hugged several well-wishers.
“We were going to open it up in the second half,” Cline said. “I told them they may beat us by a bunch but we had to go and win. The quarterback made some plays but Quindale Williams had a great game on both sides of the ball.”
Salisbury’s triple option offense befuddled and shredded Thomasville’s defense for 230 yards in the first half, including 182 on the ground. That enabled Salisbury to fashion a 16-7 lead. But the Bulldogs started shooting linebackers into the gaps and held Salisbury to 55 yards in the second half, and that included a 32-yard run by fullback Max Allen on the third play.
“The coaches came up with some different defensive formations,” Rogers said. “We focused and executed.”
None of it was much of a secret either.
“We prepared for everything we saw tonight,” said Salisbury coach Joe Pinyan, whose team finished wiih a 10-3 record. “It’s not their fault. It’s mine. Maybe we need to prepare better.”
Johnson, who now has 3,083 yards rushing for the season, lost his explosiveness because of the ankle and that led to Cline opening up the playbook. Rogers, who dropped a sure touchhdown pass in the first half, caught a 40-yard scoring strike from Peterson midway through the third quarter. Rogers hauled in the pass at the 13 with two defenders draped all over him amd found his way to the end zone as Thomasville cut Salisbury’s lead to 16-14.
“That was a big play,” Cline said. “It got the momentum going.”
After the Bulldogs forced a three-and-out later in the quarter, Williams hauled in Michael Mazur’s punt at the Thomasville 33. The Bulldogs had a wall set up for an outside return and Williams found the lane. Rogers then flew in and threw a jarring block, springing Williams the rest of the way, putting Thomasville up 20-16.
“I had to make somebody miss,” Williams said. “I got the blockers and they got me all the way to the end zone.”
It wasn’t long before Williams struck again as he intercepted a Brian Bauk pass and returned it 36 yards to the Salisbury 25 three plays after the ensuing kickoff. Bauk injured his left shoulder tackling Williams and did not return.
“Brian felt like it was his fault and it really wasn’t,” Pinyan said. “He was just trying to make a play.”
Because of the ankle injury, Johnson couldn’t spring free for any big runs but he had enough left in the tank to score on an 11-yard run, putting the Bulldogs up 27-16 with 9:31 left in the game.
“It’s hard work and determination,” Johnson said. “My offensive line. My fullback, Ryan Broadie.”
And his friends.
“That’s the way to step up,” Johnson said. “We’re a team.”
Thomasville opened the game with a 12-play, 64-yard drive, capped by Peterson’s 1-yard sneak. Johnson’s number got called on the first six plays before he had to come out and Williams spelled him.
Salisbury answered right back with Allen’s 23-yard touchdown on fourth-and-six, tying the game at 7-7 with 2:27 left in the first quarter.
The Hornets picked up some momentum when a Thomasville drive faltered in the red zone and Rob Styers missed on a 23-yard field goal attempt. It took the Hornets just four plays to go 80 yards, with Dominique Dismuke scoring on an 18-yard run. Mazur’s extra point attempt was blocked, leaving Salisbury with a 13-7 lead.
Keion Adams recovered a Williams fumble at the Thomasvlle 47 with 3:30 left in the half and the Hornets went to work. Dismuke’s 7-yard run gave Salisbury a first down at the Thomasville 13 and the Bulldogs seemed to be in trouble. But the defense held and Salisbury had to settle for Mazur’s 27-yard field goal and a 16-7 margin.
“Oh you bet we were in trouble,” Cline said. “But our defense rose to the occassion.”
And Johnson kept going.
“I’m okay,” Johnson. “I’ll be ready for next week.”
Notes: Williams had 46 yards on 12 carries. ... Peterson was 7-of-13 for 126 yards with an interception. ... Shameek Spence recovered a fumble for the Bulldogs... Allen had 145 yards on 11 carries. ... Adams intercepted a pass.

Mike Duprez can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 218 or mike.duprez@the-dispatch.com.