Evans QB sets tone in victory

ONLINE EXTRA: Watch highlights from the game at AugustaChronicle.com.

//

The kick would have been true from much longer, a 47-yard field goal that probably traveled 52 yards with enough height and right down the center.

Evans kicker Jamie Galvin's third field goal of the game Friday set off a wild celebration on the Knights' sideline. The kick came late in the fourth quarter of Evans' 37-18 victory at Glenn Hills, and it wasn't necessary to secure the win.

But Galvin's success was an indicator of how well the Knights offense put everything together in improving to 2-1 in Region 3-AAAA.

Galvin's success was an added bonus along with the play of his Knights teammates.

Evans coach Marty Jackson said the three field goals were Galvin's single-game best.

"He's kicking it amazing," said Knights quarterback Troy Griffith, who holds for Galvin. "That (last kick) was possibly the most excited I got the whole game."

Galvin also connected from 41 and 36 yards, and running back Jonathan Finch surpassed the 100-yard mark for the first time this season.

Evans, led by former Glenn Hills player Craig Garr and senior Darnell Jackson, contained the Spartans running backs early and forced the Spartans to the throw.

Garr's hardship transfer to Evans was approved before the season. He had a big game in his return.

After the game, he hugged Glenn Hills coach Ernest Tolbert and caught up with former teammates.

"I had to do what I had to do," Garr said of his performance against his former team. "But I still love them."

Glenn Hills quarterback Kendrick Armstrong was able to move the Spartans through the air and threw a late touchdown pass, but too much went wrong for Tolbert's team before that.

"It looked like Murphy's Law," said Tolbert, whose team fell to 1-2 in region play.

Evans' defense forced three first-half turnovers, and the Knights benefited from a bad snap on a Spartans punt attempt, leading to Griffith's touchdown pass.

Griffith and Jackson said the loss to Lakeside to start region play left a bad taste in the mouths of players and coaches.

After being shut out by the Panthers, the Knights have scored a combined 77 points in two wins.

"It was a big win," Jackson said. "It was a must-win, really."

Griffith set the tone for his offense from the start, scoring the Knights' first touchdown on a fourth-down sneak and throwing a 25-yard strike to Tevin Nelson for another score.

"Once you get it going (in the air), it's a lot easier to run the ball," Griffith said. "We came out with a pass on the first play and went from there."