Potent Carolina Forest rushing attack runs into brick wall in form of Hoggard | Myrtle Beach Sun News

Carolina Forest’s game Thursday against expected North Carolina powerhouse Hoggard was by no means a make-or-break scenario.

Still, the Panthers weren’t expecting this sort of result.

Marc Morris’ squad fell 21-0 to the Vikings after his normally steady rushing attack fell flat and Hoggard was able to control the clock and line of scrimmage throughout. It was just the third time the Panthers were shut out since Morris took the position prior to the 2014 season.

“The bottom line is, when you run the football, you’ve got to win the upfront battle,” Morris said. “We didn’t do it.”

Hoggard, which won its first two games by 41 and 20 points, respectively, quickly turned a close halftime score into a lopsided final that could have been worse than the ultimate tally. They allowed Carolina Forest to gain fewer than 90 second-half yards after the Panthers averaged 325 on the ground alone during the first two weeks of the season.

It ensured that this game looked very different than the meeting between the two teams a year ago. It was then that Carolina Forest escaped Wilmington with a 14-13 win over the Vikings, courtesy of a missed extra point attempt in the final seconds. Quarterback Matt Beale threw and ran for a touchdown in that game.

But he and his counterparts never got going in the rematch, which was moved up a day due to expected cancellations and preparation for Hurricane Irma.

Turning point

Carolina Forest opened the second half with the ball and trailing by just one score. However, a fumble on the first play from scrimmage was returned to the 1-yard line. Lloyd Jarreau punched it on the very next play, and the Panthers seemed to only struggle from there.

Key performers

Lloyd Jarreau: The 245-pound Hoggard running back had 78 first-half rushing yards and finished with 110 overall to go along with a touchdown.

Isaiah Kemp: The Vikings cornerback recorded nine tackles and forced a third-quarter fumble that quickly turned into a Hoggard touchdown.

By the numbers

They said it

“One thing we have not had the first two games, even the first game against Providence Day, we have not had a lot of adversity. We are a young football team, and that’s one of the things we need to grow up from. … You can’t give those kinds of teams those kinds of opportunities.” — Marc Morris

“No doubt. One thing about any spread offense or any no-huddle offense, it’s always built on momentum. The first first down generally gives you momentum, whether its us running or Myrtle Beach throwing or whoever you want to talk about. About three or four series there [in the second half], we didn’t get a first down.” —Morris, on if this was his team’s worst offensive showing during his four-year tenure.

Up next

Hoggard (N.C.): vs. Purnell Swett

Carolina Forest:vs. Myrtle Beach (Thursday)