West Lauderdale edges out Southeast Lauderdale

By By Robby Atkinson/staff writer
October 4, 2003
When it comes to a rivalry game most people believe that records don't play a factor in the outcome. That statement was very true as the West Lauderdale Knights dodged a huge bullet on Friday night by taking a hard fought 14-6 victory over cross-county rival Southeast Lauderdale in Division 5-3A play.
With the victory Stan McCain became the all-time winningest coach in West Lauderdale football history.
The one low spot in the game for both teams was penalties. The teams combined for 22 penalties in the game.
The game opened with Southeast Lauderdale on offense and the Tigers moved the ball with great ease. The drive came to a screeching halt as Justin Landrum came up with an interception on defense for the Knights and end the once promising drive for the Tigers.
West Lauderdale opened with a straight run attack led by junior fullback Scott Truesdale. Truesdale broke a 47-yard run on the fourth play of the drive to put West Lauderdale at the 23-yard line in Tiger territory. A pair of penalties pushed the Knights back and had to turn the ball over on downs after four unsuccessful rushing plays.
The game clock stopped operating in the first quarter and the officials were forced to keep time on the field.
Southeast Lauderdale opened the second quarter on a positive note when the Tigers recovered a backward lateral behind the line of scrimmage.
Neither team could mount any type of offense as the game headed into the halftime break scoreless. West Lauderdale took the ball to open the second half and used a little trickery to keep its first drive of the half alive. On fourth down the Knights moved into punt formation, but Michael Pogue hit Danny Siefker with a pass just past the first-down marker to keep possession.
The Tiger defense stood tall and forced West Lauderdale to turn the ball over on downs. After several exchanges of possession West Lauderdale would be the first to get in the endzone.
The Knights scored on the legs of Dameon Baylor from two-yards out to go up 7-0 with 6:20 left in the fourth quarter.
The Knights extended the lead on their next possession to go up 14-0 with 4:31 left in the game. Josh Hanible broke a 56-yard run for the score and put West Lauderdale in the clear for the victory.
Southeast would not go quietly into the night and added a score with 1:57 left. Drew Harper connected with Sidney Coleman on a 42-yard pass to put the Tigers at the one-yard line. Two plays later Harper pounded the ball in for the score and cut the West Lauderdale lead to 14-6 after a blocked extra point.
The attempted onside kick failed and West Lauderdale moved to 5-1 with the win.