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DCA handles Friendship 35-10




DONELSON - DCA quarterback Bradford Gaines (12) skirts right end for a first down in Friday's 35-10 victory over Friendship Christian at Ken Redmond Stadium.Michael Clinger

DONELSON – DCA quarterback Bradford Gaines (12) skirts right end for a first down in Friday’s 35-10 victory over Friendship Christian at Ken Redmond Stadium.Michael Clinger

Jones scores 3 TD’s again –

DONELSON – Sophomore Ashton Jones ran for three touchdowns for the second consecutive week and Donelson Christian Academy scored two safeties in the first quarter to remain unbeaten with a 35-10 victory over Friendship Christian School Friday at Ken Redmond Stadium.

Jones carried the ball 29 times for 155 yards and scored on runs of 2, 3 and 1 yards — all in the first half. He also scored three touchdowns in a 48-0 victory over Harding Academy the previous week.

“I hope so,” Jones said when asked if he planned to make a habit of scoring three touchdowns per game. “But all of the success starts with my offensive line. When I score three touchdowns, they score three touchdowns.”

Friday’s victory was only the sixth win for DCA (3-0) in the 16-game series. It was also its largest margin of victory in the series. DCA won the 2020 game 24-14.

Jones had been a starting safety in the first two games, but DCA coach Paul Wade said he told Jones earlier in the week he would be playing only offense against FCS (1-2).

DONELSON - DCA sophomore Ashton Jones (5) scored three touchdowns in Friday's 35-10 home win over rival Friendship Christian School. Michael Clinger

DONELSON – DCA sophomore Ashton Jones (5) scored three touchdowns in Friday’s 35-10 home win over rival Friendship Christian School. Michael Clinger

“I don’t know about three touchdowns, but I like the habit of him carrying the ball 29 times per game,” Wade said. “(Jones) reads plays well and really had great vision all night.”

The Commanders did not show the same efficiency on offense. They did not get a first down until four minutes were left in the first half. They finished with a net of 107 yards total offense, with 105 of those yards coming on two catches by Brock Montgomery.

A bizarre first quarter had DCA scoring two safeties. The first one came when DCA’s Jacob Cook blocked a punt and the ball rolled out of the end zone midway through the first quarter. After Jones’ first two touchdown runs, a bad snap over quarterback Garrett Weekly’s head scored another safety for an 18-0 Wildcats lead with four minutes left in the first quarter. DCA started its first-quarter possessions on the FCS 23, the FCS 17 and the FCS 39.

FCS’ Tyson Wolcott and DCA’s Brady Russell each had an interception in the first quarter.

“I don’t know what else you call it other than sloppy,” FCS coach John McNeal said about the first quarter. “That is certainly not the way you want to start a ballgame, especially against a very good team.

“But we battled in the second half when we could have very well laid down.”

Jones’ third touchdown gave the Wildcats a 25-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Nathan Magalei set up the score with a leaping 25-yard catch at the 1. The Commanders took a little momentum into halftime when Landon Williams kicked a 33-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.

DCA got a field goal of its own on its first drive of the second half when Braden Ducharme connected from 42 yards.

The Commanders recovered two fumbles in the fourth quarter to get some hope of a comeback. Zach Elliott recovered a fumble at the FCS 29. On the next play, Weekly lobbed a pass down the sideline that Montgomery turned into a 71-yard scoring play to cut DCA’s lead to 28-10. Noah Tidwell recovered a fumble on the next series, but FCS could not convert on fourth down to keep the drive going.

Russell added 41 yards on six carries for the Wildcats. Magalei had three catches for 39 yards. DCA quarterback Bradford Gaines completed 5-of-10 passes for 48 yards with an interception and a touchdown.

Weekly rushed for 24 yards to lead the Commanders but lost 52 yards on tackles in the backfield, mostly in the second half. He completed 4-of-15 passes for 125 yards.

“We expected them to throw the ball on every play, so we got good pressure on them,” Wade said. “(After three games) I know this team works hard. They are coachable kids with a little swagger.”

DCA has three consecutive road games – at White House Heritage, Columbia Academy and Silverdale Baptist.

Friendship Christian finishes its early season three-game road trip with a game at Grace Christian in Franklin.

Donelson Christian 35, Friendship 10

FCS – 0 3 0 7 – 10

DCA – 18 7 3 7 – 35

DCA – Safety, blocked punt out of end zone

DCA – Ashton Jones 2 run (Braden Ducharme kick)

DCA – Jones 3 run (Ducharme kick)

DCA – Safety, ball snapped out of end zone

DCA – Jones 1 run (Ducharme kick)

FCS – Landon Williams 33 yard FG

DCA – Ducharme 42 yard FG

FCS – Brock Montgomery 71 pass from Garrett Weekly (Williams kick)

DCA – Joe Sims 11 pass from Bradford Gaines (Ducharme kick)

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