No. 10 Pace Academy broke free from neighborhood rival Lovett after halftime for the school's first victory against the No. 7 Lions 24-0 Friday night at Walsh Field in Mableton.
Sophomore quarterback Gunnor Faulk capped two third-quarter possessions with 2-yard runs, and Pace wore down a much smaller Lions defensive line with 111 rushing yards from junior tailback Jordan Payne. Led by preseason all-state selection Andrew Thomas, Pace scored on back-to-back possessions to enter the fourth quarter ahead 21-0.
“We wanted to try to use our size to our advantage,” Pace coach Chris Slade said. “We didn’t really establish the run like we wanted to (in the first half), so we wanted to come out and exploit some advantages I thought we had.”
Knights junior receiver Trey Blount returned a punt 52 yards to put Pace ahead in the first quarter. He took in the Cole Taylor kick just past midfield and scored up the right sideline with 6:15 to play.
Pace threatened early in the third quarter when Blount caught a short pass from Faulk and ran 50 yards before his fumble was recovered by the Lovett at the 1. Two series later, Faulk capped a 55-yard scoring drive when he sneaked in from the Lovett 2. A 13-yard run from Payne gave the Knights first and goal, and Faulk scored two plays later.
Pace avenged a 38-3 loss last season in the teams’ first matchup. The win also gave Pace Academy an early lead in Region 6-AA, where both teams advanced to the Class AA quarterfinals last season. Lovett lost 33 seniors from that team and returned just three starters.
Lovett struggled offensively throughout and missed on its rare opportunities. Quarterback Brady Tindall was hurried all night and finished 8-for-24 passing for 45 yards and one interception. Down 14-0 and facing third and 12 with three minutes left in the third quarter, receiver Chase Carter dropped a pass from quarterback Brady Tindall for an easy touchdown. Senior running back Jay Harris, Lovett’s top returning rusher, managed just 12 yards on eight carries.
“We wanted to set the edge and contain Harris,” Slade said. “I’m the defensive coordinator and take a lot of pride in what we do on defense.”
The Lions were shut out for the first time since a 24-0 loss to St. Pius in 2012. Lovett will host neighborhood rival Westminster next week.
Pace 24, Lovett 0
L 0 0 0 0 – 0
P 7 0 14 3 – 24
P – Trey Blount 52 punt return (Sam Sloman kick)
P – Gunnor Faulk 2 run (Sloman kick)
P – Faulk 2 run (Sloman kick)
P – Sloman 39 FG
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