Fork Union shuts down STAB

FORK UNION — Last year’s game between Fork Union and St. Anne’s-Belfield came down to the final two minutes as the Blue Devils rallied for a win on the road.

Well, Fork Union made sure it didn’t need any late-game heroics this year, as it jumped out early and dispatched past the Saints 29-0 on Friday afternoon.

A stifling Fork Union defense posted its second straight shutout and the offense was effective both in the air and on the ground in the rivalry win.

“We’ve always been able to run, and we know that,” said Fork Union coach Micky Sullivan. “And we’re developing an attitude where we can play on both sides of the ball. We can play offense. We can run it, we can throw it, our kids believe they can catch it. So it’s a lot of fun for everybody.”

The Blue Devils built a 13-0 first-quarter lead behind a pair of touchdowns from Andre Parker, who led the rushing attack with 46 yards on nine carries.

But the play of the game came just before halftime after the Saints turned the ball over on downs.

It took just two plays for Fork Union to score as quarterback Richard Quittenton hooked up with a heavily-defended Akeem Garnett for a 49-yard pass play. From 12 yards out, Quittenton again connected with Garnett, in double coverage, in the corner of the end zone as time expired. Quittenton finished 6 of 11 for 159 yards through the air.

“I had no clue [there were two guys defending me],” Garnett said. “I was just completely focused on the ball. I caught it and the rest was instinct. Last year, we were more of a one-dimensional team. But now that the receivers have chemistry with the quarterback, we’re all excited.”

And that chemistry is the result of some extra practice time with Quittenton and his receivers.

“We just wanted to get back on the board before the half and not let them get a chance to get back in the game,” said Quittenton, who hails from Canada. “I knew [Garnett] was going to be open in the post. It was just a matter of having chemistry and all the work after practice finally paid off. It was almost easy because he’s so tall. You just throw it up and he’ll go get it.”

The Blue Devils led 20-0 at halftime and carried that momentum in the second half.

St. Anne’s-Belfield, which struggled offensively the entire way, didn’t get a first down in the second half until its final possession of the game. Senior running back Aaron Clark was held to 10 yards on 10 carries, and Will McGhee toted the ball five times for 22 yards. Owen Van Arsdale replaced starter Jacob Rainey at quarterback after he was injured in the first half and completed 3 of 9 passes.

In addition to stopping the run, FUMA’s defense made big plays throughout, as it recorded a safety and came up with a fumble recovery in the second half.

“I think for us, when you have to face somebody like Fork Union and they come up and smack you in the mouth, you’ve got to see how you react. And I’m proud of the way we reacted,” Saints coach John Blake said. “If we can compete against those guys then we can compete against anybody on our schedule. That’s the way we look at it.”

STAB visits St. Stephen’s/ St. Agnes next week, while Fork Union plays host to Hargrave Military Academy.