CORDOVA – Two of the area’s top middle school football programs met at Cordova Middle School Wednesday, as the home Cavaliers welcomed in Rockingham Middle School. The battle between the two Richmond County teams turned into a defensive affair, and went into overtime, as the visiting Rockets squeaked by Cordova 14-8.
Entering the game, Richard Kerekes’ Cavaliers were perfect on the season, but Rocket eighth grader Camron Medley helped hand the Cavs their first loss of the season on a four-yard touchdown run in the overtime period. The victory was an important one for the Rockets in the Southeastern Middle School Athletic Conference West standings, as they bounced back from last week’s loss to improve to 2-1.
In what turned out to be the Medley show in the second half, he accounted for all 14 of the Rockets’ points, scoring earlier in the third quarter on a 40-yard touchdown dash. Medley added the two-point conversion, and finished the day with 70 total rushing yards and two rushing scores.
Cordova took the game’s opening possession right down the field, and scored in just three plays. After big runs by Cordova’s Dylan Locklear and Tykeem Ellerbe, Frazion Steele took a sweep around the left side for a six-yard score. Locklear punched in the two-point conversion for the early 8-0 lead.
The rest of the game was a stalemate in the trenches, as Rockingham’s defensive line controlled the Cavaliers’ offense, and Cordova’s linebackers and defensive backs managed to cause multiple Rocket fumbles.
Rockingham’s big break came in the third quarter as Cordova fumbled a punt return, and eighth grader Jeffery Linton jumped on the loose ball, giving the Rockets the possession in Cavalier territory. Two plays, later Medley had his big run, and the game stayed tied 8-8 until the regulation clock expired.
Rockingham held Cordova out of the end zone during its defensive series in the extra quarter, and Medley tallied the game winner. Rockingham, coached by Phillip Waddell, moves to 2-1 on the season, while Cordova suffered its first lost (2-1, 1-1 SEMSAC).
Other notable stats from the game were Jaden Jenks’ 42 rushing yards for the Rockets, and fellow teammate Brandon Askins’ team-leading eight tackles.
Game information provided by Allen Adeimy and Phillip Waddell.
