Stony Point turns in strong performance in win over Cedar Park - clinches playoff berth
Behind Glasco Martin's bruising running, a stingy defense, and outstanding special teams play, the 7-1 (5-1) Stony Point Tigers clinched a playoff berth on Friday night with a 35-10 victory of Cedar Park.
The Tigers had every intention of coming out of this one with a different result after last years 49-21 loss to Cedar Park (4-4, 2-3) and it showed in their intensity on both sides of the ball as well as special teams/
Early in the first quarter of play, after getting a piece of a Cedar Park punt, the Tigers found themselves with great field position as they took over at the Cedar Park 46-yard line. They took full advantage of the short field few plays later when Martin took it in from 15-yards out for an early 7-0 Stony Point lead.
Stony Point would never trail as Nyk McKissic kept the offense clicking throwing for over 150 yards in the first half alone and running for two touchdowns. He would finish with over 200 yards passing on the night and three touchdowns on the ground.
Cedar Park would answered with a touchdown drive of their own but the Tigers roared right back marching 78-yards with McKissic capping the drive off with a 5-yard TD run.
The Tiger defense then took their turn shining. With first and goal at the four, Cedar Park was in position to tie the game up about midway through the second quarter but the Tiger defense had other plans. The Tigers dug in and turned back Cedar Park with a tenacious goal line stand to keep their lead at 14-7.
"That goal line stand we had really helped us out," said Stony Point coach Craig Chessher. "I feel like our defense really rose to the occasion."
Stony Point took possession, and after a couple of 30-plus yard pass plays, they struck pay dirt again as McKissic ran for his second touchdown of the half taking it in from 5-yards out to extended the Tiger lead to 21-7 for the last points of the first half.
Much like the first half, Cedar Park struggled to find an answer to the Tiger defense in the third quarter. After failing to score with goal-to-go at the eight yard line, Cedar Park would settle for their only points of the second half on a 25-yard field goal.
Stony Point would go on to extend their lead to 35-10 with their final points of the game coming on a Julian Dozier 85-yard return as their special teams came up big yet again. No matter who was being counted on to make a big play, be it the offense, special teams, or the defense, each one stepped up big.
'Our offense was really the story tonight, they really moved the ball well," said Chessher.
"Right now I feel good - we just made the playoffs and I told our guys they should be congratulated for that," he added.
