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East Forsyth tops Reynolds 37-16 on somber night
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Published: August 30, 2008
Updated: 08/30/2008 01:15 am
Reynolds was on a mission to heal by playing football last night, but quarterback Danny O'Brien of East Forsyth was on a mission to win a game.
O'Brien, a 6-3 senior who has committed to Maryland, rushed for a career high 120 yards as East wore down Reynolds for a 37-16 victory on a somber night at Deaton-Thompson Stadium.
The game capped a week in which Reynolds experienced the death of a teammate -- Matt Gfeller, who was gravely injured in last week's season opener and died Sunday
The game was played at the wishes of the Gfeller family and the Reynolds players, but neither the Demons nor the Eagles practiced much this week.
There was a moment of silence before the game to remember Gfeller, and the teams met under a goalpost for a group prayer before the opening kickoff.
"It was just one more step in the healing process," Coach Mike Propst of Reynolds said. "Win or lose, it didn't matter to me, and I said that before the game. I just wanted to make sure we honored the Gfellers and Matt and just played football, and we will continue to do that the rest of the season."
Coach Todd Willert of East said he received a text message from O'Brien late Thursday night that said: ‘Give me the ball.'
And Willert obliged, calling O'Brien's number for 20 carries, and for once, the strong-armed quarterback did more with his legs than his arm. O'Brien smiled and said his rushing total was "easily" a career high.
"Coach decided I would have to run more this game because last year they didn't key on me running the ball," O'Brien said. "I said whatever I had to do to win the game, whatever it took, and so that's what I did.
"It was definitely tough for me. We consider them like family and we are pretty close. Willert and Propst are like best friends, and we are around each other a lot. It was tough going to the funeral and all that, and it was a real tough week for us."
The Eagles (1-1) played without Jeff Harris, one of their best offensive lineman, and Christian Smith, their best running back. Both have nagging injuries. East still struck quickly, scoring two touchdowns in the first 6:11, and steadily pulled away.
O'Brien connected with Ian Thompson on a 32-yard touchdown pass off a flea-flicker less than five minutes into the game, and Quinta Harvey returned a punt 77 yards for the Eagles' second score. Zach Boyer kicked the second of his five extra points to make it 14-0.
Reynolds closed to 14-6 when quarterback Jeremy Peterson connected with Will Miller on a 42-yard touchdown pass later in the first quarter, but East led 21-6 at halftime after O'Brien capped a 30-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Reynolds closed to 21-9 in the third quarter on Malik El-Beshti's 32-yard field goal, but linebacker A.J. Perea sealed the outcome when he scooped up a fumble early in the fourth quarter and returned it 2 yards for a touchdown.
Peterson completed 13 of 33 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns, but elsewhere, the Demons struggled, losing both of their fumbles and being pushed around by East's big offensive line.
"I don't even know what to say," Willert said. "I think it's a lot of healing for everybody tonight. It was good to see the fan support, the good showing. It was a game, we had to do it, win, lose, whatever. It was a tough win. I am just worried about Propst and the Reynolds family and I hope they can keep it going."
For one of the first times since last Friday's game, Propst took a minute to think about football.
"We have to really work, and in practice the best time to improve is the first week to the second week," he said. "We didn't really have a week this week, obviously, so this will be our second week and we will try to improve greatly."
■ Mason Linker can be reached at 727-7324 or at mlinker@wsjournal.com.
East Forsyth 14 7 7 9 -- 37
Reynolds 6 0 3 7 -- 16
EF -- Thompson 32 pass from O'Brien (Boyer kick)
EF -- Harvey 77 punt return (Boyer kick)
R -- Miller 42 pass from Peterson (kick failed
EF -- O'Brien 1 run (Boyer kick)
R -- El-Beshti 32 FG
EF -- Kellum 21 pass from O'Brien (Boyer kick)
EF -- Perea 2 fumble return (Boyer kick)
R -- Gainey 23 pass from Peterson (El-Beshti kick)
EF -- safety; Peterson tackled in end zone
Records -- East Forsyth 1-1. Reynolds 0-2
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