By Andrew Millaway
Sports Correspondent

The last few seasons, the final night of the regular season always meant a match-up between Elkin and the always tough East Surry.

But not this season, with the Buckin’ Elks and Cardinals going separate ways into new conferences.

Instead, it was Forbush that rolled into Grissom Stadium on the final night before the playoffs. The Elks hadn’t lost a regular season finale since falling to Starmount 2004, and that trend continued with a 59-8 senior night victory over the Falcons.

The Elks spoiled the coaching finale of Forbush’s Pat Mitchell, who announced a few weeks ago that he is stepping down at season’s end.

Mitchell’s Falcons gave the Elks a run early in the game, driving all the way to the Elkin 4-yard line before fumbling into the hands of the Elks.

Elkin then went to work the other way, with Grayson Kimery punching the ball into the end zone from 3 yards out to cap a 91-yard drive. Ethan Creed added the extra point.

After forcing a Forbush punt the Elks struck quickly again. Kimery once again would score from 3 yards out and Creed would add the PAT to give the Elks the 14-0 lead with a minute left in the first quarter. 

The Elks found the end zone again on their first drive of the second quarter with a little more than 10 minutes to play before the half. This time the Elks leading rusher, Tre Hayes, marched 71 yards down the field for the score. The Creed kick failed, leaving the score 20-0.

Creed made up for the missed kick when he seven yards out with six minutes left before the half. The Elks went for two but didn’t get it, leaving the contest 26-0.

Elkin went to the passing to get its next touchdown. Creed hit tight end Cody Brown on a dump pass over the middle and Brown raced 32 yards for the score.

Elkin struck once more before the half. Creed launched a long pass into the cold night air, and senior Cass Wilkins came up with the catch, then walked into the end zone as time expired. The throw-and-catch covered 55 yards. Creed’s PAT gave Elkin a 39-0 halftime lead.

The second half was more of the same for Elkin. Creed scored from 13 yards out on  the second play of the third quarter. Senior Aaron Rabin added a 69-yard touchdown run, while Jordan Coe found the end zone from 13 yards out.

Creed hit his final two PAT attempts for a 59-0 lead.

When it looked as if the Elks where going to get the shutout with time running down in the fourth quarter, things went south on a punt attempt. The snap went over Creed’s head and flew out of the end zone, resulting in a safety.

Forbush’s offense found the end zone with 31 seconds left when Zach Hutchens hauled in a seven-yard pass from Brittain Baity to make the final 59-8.

Mitchell has served as Forbush’s head coach since 2001. He was an assistant with the Falcons in the late 1980s and early 1990s as well.

His final Forbush team finished 1-9, though one game won on the field (vs. North Wilkes) had to be forfeited. The Falcons had solid runs from 2004-06, beating Starmount each of those years.

“I coached a great group of young men,” Mitchell said after the Elkin game as he tried to hold back tears. “Eleven of them are leaving after this year and they are all very special to me. I will enjoy watching from the stands and will enjoy watching my son play next year. I will be there as their biggest fan always.”

Mitchell continued: “As far as the game goes we couldn’t stop them. They came out and hit us right in the mesh. Coach (Richard) Grissom does a good job with them.”

Elkin finishes the regular season 9-2 overall, 8-1 MVAC.

“We played pretty good as a whole,” Grissom said. “We tried to move kids in and out all night, and get them in different positions, but a good job as a whole.”

The Elks now turn their attention to the state playoffs, where a No. 2 seed and a first-round home game against Union County (2-7-1) awaits.

Elkin 59, Forbush 8

Friday • at Elkin

Forbush 0 0 0 8 — 8

Elkin 14 25 20 0 — 59

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

E — Grayson Kimery 3 run (Ethan Creed kick)

E — Kimery 3 run (Creed kick)

Second Quarter

E — Tre Hayes 71 run (kick failed)

E — Creed 7 run (run failed)

E — Cody Brown 32 pass from Creed (kick failed)

E — Cass Wilkins 55 pass from Creed (Creed kick)

Third Quarter

E — Creed 13 run (kick failed)

E — Rabin 69 run (Creed kick)

E — Jordan Coe 13 run (Creed kick)

Fourth Quarter

F — safety, punt snap sails out of end zone

F — Zach Hutchens 7 pass from Brittain Baity (run failed)

NOTES: Elkin rushed for 385 yards, led by Tre Hayes (4-104), Ethan Creed (10-84), Aaron Rabin (2-72) and Grayson Kimery (5-21) ... Creed completed 6-of-9 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown ... Brittain Baity led Forbush with 110 rushing yards on 14 carries. The Falcons finished with 162 total yards on the night.