By By Jamey Lanier/Special to The Star
Sept. 8, 2001
UNION Stan McCain's West Lauderdale Knights overcame sloppy field conditions to defeat the Union Yellowjackets 33-12.
West Lauderdale used a strong running game to work the wet field into their favor, with junior running back Carlessio Blanks getting big gains behind the strong blocking of Brandon Flake, Richie McAllister, Matt Smith, Clay Pope, Jon Parker and Tommy Hodges.
West got on the board in the first period with Blanks capping a 7-play 78-yard drive with a 9-yard scoring run. Blanks converted the two-point try to give West Lauderdale an 8-0 lead with 8:28 to play in the first quarter.
Both defenses battled it out before the Knights forced a Union turnover at the Yellowjacket 16-yardline. C.Jay Fountain called his own number three plays later,sneaking in from two yards out. Will Moseley drilled the PAT advancing the Knight lead to 15-0 with 5:30 to play in the first half.
The Knights dented the scoreboard again just before halftime as Fountain directed a textbook 10-play 73-yard drive that took four minutes off the clock. Fountain hit Hodges streaking across the middle for 10 yards to convert on a third-and-ten to keep the drive alive. Fountain scored 7 plays later on a four yard run. The run for two was stopped to round out the first half scoring at 21-0.
The Knight defense turned up the heat early in the third quarter, forcing a Union fumble that Justin Campbell falling on the ball in the endzone for another West Lauderdale touchdown. The PAT was wide left leaving the score at 27-0 at the 10:08 mark in the third quarter.
West took advantage of another Union miscue on the Yellowjackets next drive when Will Moseley broke through and partially blocked a Yellowjacket punt setting the Knights up first-and-ten at the Union 17-yardline. Blanks took it in three plays later from one yard out. The two-point try failed giving West a 33-0 lead.
Union got on the board in the fourth quarter when freshman running back Anthony Johnson broke loose on a 73-yard scoring run. The PAT failed leaving the score at 33-6.
The Yellowjackets rounded out the scoring on a Jody Blount to Ray Harper 36-yard TD pass. The try for two failed, ending the scoring at 33-12.
Blanks led the Knights with 123 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns while Union was led by Johnson with 117 yards on nine attempts with one score.
West returns to action next Friday when they travel across the county to take on Northeast and Union travels to Lake.