Clutch win

Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 10, 2013

The scoreboard provided the facts but the body language of the West Forsyth football players told the story. Titan “swag” is back. Following Friday’s come-from-behind win over rival Mount Tabor, the Titans shook the hands of their opponents and jogged back to their sideline for a low-key celebration. No boisterous chants, unnecessary taunting or “bush league” antics. Though obviously pleased with the results — only their second win in the past seven years against the Spartans — they took the accomplishment in stride. It was a positive sign from a team that is focused on greater achievements. “I was proud of how our kids handled things,” said West head coach Adrian Snow. “They know that this was just one battle and not the entire war. It was a good win but there’s still a lot more to play for.” Although standout performers were plentiful on both sides of the ball — Quintin Brinkley, Phil Taylor, Darion Slade and Jalen Dalton just to name a few — it was the collective effort of the West defense that decided the outcome. The unit dug in against a potent Tabor offense and became the first team this season to keep the Spartans out of the end zone. Tabor managed only two first-half field goals and were turned away on several key fourth-and-short plays. Of the latter, the Titans defense made its most notable stand with the score knotted at 6-6 midway into the fourth quarter. After the Titans had tied the game on a dramatic 40-yard touchdown pass from Slade to receiver Schiem Lindsay in the Tabor end …