By By Tony Krausz/assistant sports editor
May 15, 2004
Meridian High School head football coach Ed Stanley said the game officials were asked to be lenient for the Wildcats scrimmage against the Louisville Wildcats on Friday night.
Even with the extra room to operate, the Meridian High coach had to be pleased with his team being flagged for only two penalties in 48 minutes of play at Ray Stadium.
Both penalties came while Meridian High had position of the ball, as the team was flagged twice for holding down field on two long runs.
Meridian High racked up 303 yards on 49 plays, scoring three rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown.
Running back Derrick Davis led the way for the home offense, rushing for 134 yards on 23 carries. He scored the longest rushing touchdown of the game, a 40-yarder with 11:08 left in the opening half.
Meridian High's offensive line didn't give up a single sack in the scrimmage, as the home Wildcats rushed for 191 yards against Louisville.
Meridian High quarterback Justin Baylor completed 5-of-11 passes for 112 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jonathan Byrd in the fourth quarter.
The sophomore quarterback also rushed for two touchdowns, both from one yard out, and gained five yards on six rushes.
Louisville's only touchdown of the scrimmage came with 1:06 left in the first half. Louisville quarterback Daniel Eichelberger completed an 11-play, 36-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run.
The drive kept the Meridian High defense on the field for six minutes, as Louisville cut its deficit to 14-7 in the first half completing two four-down plays during the drive.
Louisville gained 86 yards on 32 plays in the first half, but Meridian High surrendered just 29 yards in the second half.
Rashad Byrd and Rolando Hardaway each recorded a sack, and Meridian High recovered three fumbles.
Rashad Byrd made 10 tackles for Meridian High, and Lamario Hopson and Lavarus Rue notched seven and six tackles, respectively.
Meridian High's most encouraging play of the scrimmage came with 4:23 left in the game.
Baylor connected with Jonathan Byrd on a 50-yard scoring pass, after the defense held Louisville to three plays on the previous drive.
Jonathan Byrd hauled in the scoring pass around Louisville's 15-yard line, catching the ball over the top of a defender for the score and a 27-7 lead.
Meridian High connected on all four point-after attempts in the game, using three different kickers. Phillip Sullivan connected on two PATs, and John Carroll and Duran Wilson each made one.