In a season opener surrounded by unknowns, Red Bank football coach Chris Brown relied on what he could count on Friday night.
“There’s no way this game happens without the amazing efforts of our administration, out booster club, our fans and so many others who made playing this game possible,” Brown said after his Lions rolled to a 41-12 home win over Soddy-Daisy before a masked crowd of fans on each side.
As for the game, as each team dealt with a preseason unlike any other, Brown leaned on a defensive front four that was equal parts electric and ever-reaching. Simply put, in this day and age of the coronavirus, the Red Bank defensive line, which had six sacks and six more tackles for loss, was anything but socially distant with Soddy-Daisy hot-shot quarterback Isaac Barnes.
“That’s our strength, and we play to our strength and game-plan around our strengths,” Brown said of a dynamic front that was led by Jedon High’s three sacks and defensive tackle Deimontae Gustus’ fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Brown’s Lions jumped to a quick 14-0 lead behind that strong defensive start. Through the first 12 minutes, Red Bank held the vaunted Trojans’ offense to minus-1 yard, thanks in large part to two High sacks and a Cam Bell fumble recovery on a backward pass.