Noles overcome early mistakes against Byers
Oct. 23—SMITHVILLE — The Smithville Seminoles overcame a couple of early turnovers and cranked up their offense in the second and third quarters to snag another Division 1-1A win, 43-12 over H.W. Byers.
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"It was ugly, but a win is a win," Smithville coach Chad Collums said. "There were some things we did well, and some things we didn't do well, like our defensive passing game. We have to get that stuff fixed."
Smithville's defense came up with an early turnover on a fumble recovery and cashed in on a 17-yard scoring run by Chandler Brunetti early in the first quarter.
Chandler Woodham set up the next touchdown with a big return on the second fumble forced by the Noles, and Fabian Sproulls found the end zone on a 7-yard run.
But then the mistakes kicked in for Smithville as they gave up a long touchdown pass and then fumbled on their next two possessions to keep Byers hanging on going into the second quarter.
The Noles bounced back late in the second as Sproulls added his second score of the night, and Dylan Christian scored on a 1-yard run, set up by a Woodham reception, to lead 25-12 at the half.
Smithville blanked Byers in the second half, icing the win with touchdown runs by Tyler Lann and Ryan Christian and a 23-yard strike from Brunetti to Jake Jarrett.
Jabarri Wright scored both of Byers' touchdowns on receptions of 71 and 34 yards in the first half.
EXTRA POINTS
Turning Point: Christian's touchdown with 1:46 to go started a 24-0 run to end the game for Smithville.
Point Man: Sproulls found the end zone twice and led with five carries for 78 yards.
Talking Point: "We have a big game this week, so we have to get those things fixed. That's a big game that a lot of people have had circled for a long time." — Smithville coach Chad Collums
NOTES
—Smithville closes out division play and the regular season by traveling to TCPS next Friday and hosting Thrasher on Nov. 4.
—Neither team punted in the first half, and the Seminoles were never forced to punt.
—The Noles' lone extra point was made by exchange student Filipo Massa.
