Tough night for Wildcats

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Aug. 21, 2004
WAYNESBORO The Meridian High School Wildcats wanted another half of football Friday at War Eagle Stadium.
The Wildcats turned the ball over five times in a two-quarter jamboree 17-0 loss against the preseason No. 2-ranked War Eagles.
The 24-minute preseason contest did not look like it was being played by a team that shares the No. 4 ranking in The Associated Press' preseason poll. Meridian High and Brookhaven tied for fourth in the poll released earlier this week.
"You have to secure the football; it is an absolute to winning championships," said Meridian High head coach Ed Stanley. "This was a good experience for our kids. They understand what they did well and the mistakes they made."
Wayne County recovered four Meridian High fumbles, three of the War Eagles' recoveries were deep in Wildcats' territory. Wayne County's JaQuanton Washam grabbed the War Eagles' other turnover, picking off a pass at his 33-yard line.
Wayne County converted three of the five turnovers into points, scoring touchdowns from one and 37 yards out and tallying a 19-yard field goal.
"We have to concentrate on securing the football," said Meridian High offensive coordinator Wyatt Rogers. "We work on it every single day (in practice), but we looked like we had never seen a ball tonight."
Meridian High's defense was able to disrupt much of what Wayne County was trying to do with the ball in the jamboree.
Wayne County gained 145 yards in the two quarters, with 75 of those yards coming off two big passing plays late in the second quarter. Meridian High limited the War Eagles to 37 yards rushing.
Meridian High recovered two Wayne County fumbles in the jamboree.
"I thought we were great on defense," said Meridian High defensive lineman Jeremy Finley, who recorded two tackles and a sack. "Everybody from the defensive line, defensive backs and linebackers did their job. There are areas we need to improve on, but we played well."
War Eagles sophomore quarterback Drexler Johnson completed 5-of-13 passes for 108 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown toss midway through the second quarter.
Wayne County scored its first touchdown after Meridian High fumbled the ball on its seven-yard line. Johnson ran in for the score from one-yard out with 10:34 to play in the second quarter.
War Eagles kicker Brandan Sellers recorded a field goal with 3:06 to play, after Wayne County recovered a fumble on its 48-yard line and pushed the ball to Meridian High's one-yard line.
"I felt like our defensive front and linebacking corps played well," Stanley said. "The secondary played well, with the exception of giving up (two) big plays."
Meridian High gained 77 yards on 32 plays, and the Wildcats never moved the ball closer to the end zone than Wayne County's 31-yard line.
Wildcats junior quarterback Justin Baylor completed 7-of-11 passes for 37 yards with one interception, and running back Cordera Eason led the ground game with 26 yards on 11 carries with one fumble.
"We made a few errors on offense, but we are going to get that straight in practice on Monday," Eason said. "The ball was a little wet, but we had too many miscues."
Meridian High will begin play in the regular season against Clinton at 7 p.m. Friday on the road.