Wesley Branch
SNELLVILLE – Mountain View powered their way to a season-opening win Friday night, dominating in all three phases.
After rumbling into Shiloh territory on the opening drive, the Bears took a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter after a 41-yard kick from Nick Razetto. On their following offensive possession, they continued to run the ball, capping off a nine-play drive with a 15-yard scoring run from Jerome Newlan. On top 10-0 after the first quarter, the Bears blew the game open before halftime, adding 28 points in the second quarter.
Finishing with six touchdowns and 368 yards on the ground and scoring another on special teams, Mountain View pitched a shutout through 3 quarters and handled Shiloh 58-7 to begin the season 1-0.
“Last week, we didn’t play up to our standard, so our guys were ticked off. They came out tonight wanting to get back to the way we play football, the way we play defense. Just a credit to our kids and our coaching staff,” head coach John Poitevint said of his defense.
The strength of the Bears’ offense was on full display Friday night as well, as their offensive line played with physicality and toughness.
“That’s our philosophy, that is the strength of our team, is our offensive line,” Poitevint said. “Those guys have been working really hard, they’re a very determined bunch. That’s our goal every week, to go out and dominate the line of scrimmage.”
Offensive Coordinator, Tim Foster, echoed those thoughts on the offensive line and the physicality of the unit. “I thought they performed very well today, they played very physical, they played through the whistle, which is what our culture is,” said Foster.
“I was very pleased with how we performed. Last week versus South Gwinnett, the scrimmage was not to our standard. And we challenged those guys and they responded well. They responded very well to get into our physicality and our culture and how we play offensive football. I think it showed on the field.”
The physicality rubbed off on the Bears’ special teams unit as well.
After forcing a Shiloh three-and-out, Mountain View’s punt return unit forced their way into the backfield, as CJ Ellis blocked the Generals’ punt. Teammate Jabari Spencer then scooped up the loose ball at the five-yard line and walked into the endzone. The fireworks didn’t stop there though.
After a penalty on Shiloh’s punt coverage, Mountain View Quarterback Jayden Dooley took off for a 50-yard touchdown on the second play of the drive to extend the lead. “It’s a read option, he (the defensive end) crashed down, I took it. Our receiver made an excellent block (that) allowed me to get to the outside. And after that it’s just put it in second gear and get in the endzone,” Dooley said.
Dooley finished with 66 yards and that scoring run on 7 carries. The senior QB showed off his arm strength as well, completing 7 of his 14 passes for 104 yards and one touchdown pass to wide receiver Zyon Davis. Davis finished with 43 yards and the mentioned touchdown on 2 receptions. In addition, receiver Caleb Farr added 3 receptions and 38 yards
After Jahmir Joseph’s first of three total touchdowns on the ground, The Bears led 38-0 at halftime. Fellow running back and Joseph’s teammate, Jerome Newlan, spoke on what he saw from the defense Friday.
“They (Shiloh’s defense) really started overflowing,” Newlan said. “Once they overflow, (I) just cut back inside (and) run it up the middle.”
Newlan and Joseph offered a dynamic blend of power and speed that was all too much for Shiloh’s defense. Newlan, a senior, tallied 139 yards on 18 attempts and the aforementioned first-quarter touchdown. While his running mate Jahmir Joseph found the endzone three times and collected 81 yards on just 8 carries.
“(I’m trying to) Show people that really anybody can do it. (Even a) Small back especially at the high school level (as a) senior,” Newlan said of his physical running.
For Shiloh, Quarterback Ricky Simmons did his best to shoulder the load offensively, largely contributing to Shiloh’s 179 total yards. Simmons was 8-for-16 through the air for 139 yards and linked up with Landon Dean for the Generals’ lone touchdown early in the fourth quarter from 40 yards out.
However, their running attack was stalled by Mountain View’s impressive front seven, as Shiloh totaled 40 rushing yards and averaged 1.8 yards per carry on the night.
Tyler Robinson of Mountain View came away with one interception in the second quarter as well.
Read the online version here: https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/mountain-view-cruises-past-shiloh-for-opening-road-win/article_cc84f878-3e5a-11ee-a584-2b817f925665.html