Calvary head football coach Mark Stroud believes his team has more to prove to itself and others.
A 3-0 record and a convincing 47-14 home victory over Frederica Academy in a non-league game certainly will help.
Quarterback Jake Merklinger threw two touchdown passes to help the Cavaliers to a commaning 34-0 halftime advantage in an outburst that showcased their overall depth.
“We wanted to put the ball in our best players’ hands,” said Stroud. “I think it will help us be a good offensive team. Once we can spread things out, we can expand the field vertically.”
More:Final scores: Get Savannah-area high school football Week 3 results here
On the second series, Calvary Day took possession on the 50 after a shanked punt, and they scored nine plays later when Antonio Butts Jr. scooted into the end zone from 2 yards out with 4:23 left in the opening stanza.
It took the Cavaliers just two plays on the next possession to register their next points when flanker Jamari Brooks took a handful in the backfield and outraced the Frederica defense 40 yards for a score.
Merklinger gave the Cavaliers a 21-0 lead when he fired a 13-yard scoring strike to Caden Arnold over the middle with 6:39 left before halftime.
After Calvary Day’s defense clamped down on Frederica’s running game in their backfield for losses, Merklinger found Deandre Singleton Jr. in the flat, and the senior juked his way past two defenders on his way to a 27-yard touchdown.
The Cavaliers’ defense again rose to the occasion in the closing seconds of the first half when it forced a Frederica fumble on the CDS 3-yard line, and the Cavaliers’ Trevor Strowbridge scooped it up and sprinted 99 yards down the sidelines that gave his team a 34-0 halftime bulge.
More:Savannah Country Day, Calvary Day, New Hampstead improve to 2-0
Key play
Frederica Academy appeared to be ready to gain some momentum before halftime when it pieced together a productive drive to the Calvary 1 on a fourth down with 3 seconds remaining.
Jordan Triplett juggled the handoff and lost the ball. Strowbridge scooped it up, broke out a scrum and found an open path down the sideline.
A Frederica score would have put it within 3 scores and given new life for the second half.
Key stats
Merklinger threw for 145 yards and ran for 19, as he connected with six different receivers on the night.
“We do have a lot of weapons, and our coach did a great job in helping me use them,” he said. “We had a great effort, and we were able to spread it around.”
Calvary’s defense limited Frederica to 86 yards in the first half, and the visiting Knights only crossed the 50 twice.
What we learned
1. The Cavaliers can be swashbucklers: Calvary showed its versatility on offense using an effective cast to move the ball on offense via the air and the ground. Donovan Johnson led their seven rushers with 44 yards.
2. Frederica has some weapons, too: Quarterback Bryce Reilly ran for 79 yards with a score, and running back Jordan Triplett added 80 yards with a touchdown. Reilly also threw for 79 yards.
3. Calvary Day’s defensive size and speed can be a factor: Stroud wasn’t overly impressive with his defense, but the Cavaliers overwhelmed Frederica on both lines most of the evening. They also had a decisive advantage with their speed, particularly in the open field.
More:Preseason high school football power rankings in the greater Savannah area
They said it
“Our defense is really good. They are strong, fast, and physical. You don’t want to play them.”
— Jake Merklinger
“You always want to play really, really well, but you also want to get exposed. Once we get some things cleaned up, I think we have the chance to be a really, really good football team. Our kids are playing really hard, and they are trying to form themselves into a really good football team.”
— Mark Stroud
Game balls
Frederica, which posted a 27-6 victory in its opener, never quit despite having only 21 players on its roster, and having a few players sidelined during the game.
Calvay’s Caden Arnold had four catches for 33 yards with a touchdown and also scored a 16-yard touchdown on the ground.
Butts, who had eight tackles and a sack, and teammate Brian Joiner who had nine stops.
What’s next
Calvary Day: The Cavaliers (3-0) will travel to North Christian Cobb Academy (2-1) next Friday.
CALVARY DAY 47, FREDERICA ACADEMY 14
FA|0|0|0|14|—|14
CD|14|20|13|0|—|47
First quarter
CD—Antonio Butts Jr. 2 run (Trevor Strowbridge kick)
CD—Jamari Brooks 40 run (Strowbridge kick)
Second quarter
CD—Caden Arnold 13 pass from Jake Merklinger (Strowbridge kick)
CD—Deandre Singleton Jr. 27 pass from Merklinger (kick failed)
CD—Strowbridge 99 fumble return (Strowbridge kick)
Third quarter
CD—Donovan Johnson 7 run (kick failed)
CD—Arnold 16 run (Strowbridge kick)
Fourth quarter
FA—Jordan Triplett 1 run (Daniel McHughkick )
FA—Bryce Reilly 3 run ( Mc Hugh kick)
