By By Jeff Byrd/staff writer
September 28, 2002
SOSO A near perfect homecoming for West Jones saw the Mustangs roll to 5-0 on the season with a 35-0 romp past Northeast Lauderdale here Friday night.
The Mustangs used the arm and legs of quarterback Brett Hyatt in directing four touchdown drives including one, 15-play march in the second quarter that put West Jones up 14-0.
In the second half, West Jones got a 24-yard touchdown run from Hyatt and then cashed in on a Northeast Lauderdale fumble to go up 28-0. The win puts the Mustangs at 2-0 in Region 5-4A.
Northeast Lauderdale, which lost three fumbles, saw a three-game winning streak end. The Trojans fall to 3-2 overall and 1-1 inside the region.
West Jones head coach Scott Pierson was quite complimentary of Northeast
Lauderdale coach Steve Nelson's defensive approach.
The game may have turned out different if Northeast running back Marcus Betts gets the ball in the endzone before losing a fumble. The play occurred in the second quarter with the Trojans trailing 7-0.
An interception by the Trojans' Larry Hopson set up Northeast at the Mustangs' 36. A 13-yard draw by Rod Wilson gave the Trojans a first down to the 23.
On second down, Betts got loose and did a great job keeping his feet toward the Mustang goal. But then the ball popped loose near the goal-line.
West Jones recovered in the endzone for the touchback.
The two teams would exchange punts with the Mustangs starting a new drive at its own 20. There, West Jones methodically marched 80 yards in 15 plays. Hyatt completed three passes in the drive, none bigger than a fourth down conversion when he found Michael Thigpen for 19 yards to the Trojan 15.
A 15-yard run by Justin Young placed the ball at the four. On second down, Young scored on a five-yard run. Britt Barefoot added the PAT kick to make it 14-0 with 2:56 left in the half.
Northeast Lauderdale opened the second half with a promising drive set up by a 44-yard pass from Wilson to Michael McShane. Wilson added a 15-yard
scramble for a first down at the 24, but the drive stalled after that.
On fourth down, Wilson was dropped for a 15-yard loss back to the Mustang 43.
West Jones wasted little time in reclaiming command. Hyatt tossed a 12-yard pass to Fernando Goldman to convert a 2nd-and-12. He then ripped off consecutive draws of 18 and 24 yards, the latter good for the touchdown. Barefoot's kick made it 21-0 with 6:49 left in the third quarter.
A Wilson fumble inside his own 10 helped set up West's fourth touchdown.
Danny Jones cashed in for West Jones on a nine-yard scoring run. Barefoot's kick upped lead to 28-0 with 4:29 left in the third.
Northeast responded with one more good drive reaching the Mustang 23 after Betts picked up gains of 17 and 15 yards. The Mustangs stiffened and then stopped Wilson on fourth-and-four to end the threat.
Reserves took over much of the fourth quarter. West Jones got its final score when back-up quarterback Marcus Moore hit Thigpen on a 17-yard touchdown pass. Barefoot added the kick for a 35-0 lead with 2:49 left in the game.
Nelson complimented West Jones but at the same time said his team can bounce back.
The Trojans did finish with 169 yards rushing and 213 in total offense.
Betts had 77 yards off 15 carries. Maurice Langston came in and earned 45
yards at quarterback.
West Jones was led by Hyatt who was 7-of-12 passing for 122 yards and
added another 53 yards rushing. Jones had 83 yards rushing including a
one-yard TD run that capped the Mustangs' opening possession of the game.
The score was set up by a 39-yard reception by Goldman. Thigpen had 5
catches for 75 yards.
West Jones returns to action next Friday at Quitman.