Quarterback Josh Jones finished this season with 2,151 passing yards and 14 passing touchdowns. He
averaged 268.9 yards per game through the air. File Photo/Andrew Thrift
By: Andrew Thrift, Sports Editor
Braves football had a crushing last two weeks of their season. With their last home game against Notre Dame of Ohio being a loss, followed by an away loss against Concord.
The first quarter of the Notre Dame game started with Josh Jones capturing the game opening possession with a 4-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Davis. Jones created a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive on the possession. End of the first quarter had the Braves up 7-none.
The second quarter was a point grab for the visiting Falcons. The Falcons got off with a 15-play, 70-yard drive in the second period that prolonged for seven and a half minutes. Idris Lawrence logged 11 rushing attempts on the possession. Including a 1-yard touchdown drive on the third down. The Falcons Guam Lee was able to scoop up the loose ball after a confusing pass from Josh Jones and ended up going 32 yards for a Falcons touchdown. Falcons quarterback Chris Brimm finished off the quarter with a 6-yard touchdown run. Putting the Falcons up 21-7.
After halftime, Notre Dame went back to work with a 36-yard field goal from Tanner Harding. The Falcons were able to triumph again with a touchdown from a team effort from Bryce Sheppert, Alex Hodge and Davis Patterson. The Falcons would finish off the quarter with yet another touchdown putting the Falcons way up, 38-7.
In the final quarter of the last home game, Idris Lawrence ran 18 yards on the second down to then finish off the game with a 28-yard scoring drive with a 4-yard touchdown run up the middle. Final score, 45-7 Falcons.
The following week at Concord, Josh Jones was able to accumulate 400 yards of total offense and almost got the Braves a final drive in the last minute.
The Mountain Lions scored the first points of the game after a fumble by the Braves to drive Concord 18 yards in seven plays. Quarterback Jack Mangel drove one yard on the fourth down to finish the drive. Jack Mangel completed all three of his pass attempts for 34 yards. Kevon Young-Warren ran eight yards out to finish off the touchdown drive. This didn’t turn the Braves down though, Devin Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 52 yards to get the Braves on the board. Josh Jones ran for 13 yards and completed a pair of passes for 19 yards with help from Trey Dixon with the 8-yard strike. End of the first quarter had the Mountain Lions up 14-7.
The second quarter gave the Braves some more points with a completed six of seven plays from Josh Jones including a 17-yard touchdown strike to C.J. Davis on the 4th-and-3. Jones ran for 16 yards on the possession tying the game 14-14.
To start the second half, a failed kickoff from the Mountain Lions let the Braves take the lead on a 45-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 30-yard field goal from Alex Alvarado. Putting the Braves up for the last time 17-14. The Mountain Lions took that as a challenge and ended the quarter 28-17.
In the final quarter, the Braves wouldn’t let up with Josh Jones completing three of his five passing attempts for 66 yards on the possession while also rushing for 17 yards. Final score for the last game for the Braves, a crushing 28-25 Mountain Lions.
The Braves finished off the season with six victories, the most since they posted 10 back in. They also finished with a 3-2 record at home, as well as a 3-3 away.
