Knights run away with victory over Bulldogs
By By Austin Bishop
EMG regional sports director
Cory Williams introduced himself to Lauderdale County football fans in a hurry on Thursday night.
The West Lauderdale senior returned four punts for 166 yards, including one for a 70-yard touchdown, to lead the visiting Knights to a 55-20 win over Clarkdale before a large crowd.
That it did.
The Knights punted after their first possession, but Williams put the Knights in business at the Clarkdale 10-yard line when he ran back the Bulldogs' first punt of the night 40 yards.
After two plays netted five yards in losses, sophomore quarterback Austin Davis hit Ben Weil with a 15-yard scoring toss over the middle. The two-point conversion attempt failed, but WL led 6-0 with 6:58 to play in the first quarter.
West Lauderdale's Frank Harmon recovered a Clarkdale fumble on the next play from scrimmage and the Knights had the ball at the CHS 15-yard line. Dameon Baylor ran the ball in for a touchdown on the next play. Baylor also tacked on the two-point conversion to put the winners up 14-0 with 6:37 to go in the quarter.
Early in the second quarter Williams returned a punt 18 yards to give WL the ball at the Bulldogs' 48. The Knights then scored five plays later when quarterback Michael Pogue scored on a two-yard run. The score was set up by bruising fullback Scott Truesdale, who carried the ball three times for 41 yards on the drive.
The extra point kick was good and WL led 21-0 with 10:11 left in the half.
Four plays later Williams returned a punt 70 yards for a score. The kick made it 28-0 with 8:01 left in the half.
West Lauderdale added a fifth touchdown when 31.4 seconds left in the half on a screen pass from Davis to Truesdale that covered 45 yards. The kick put the winners up 35-0 at the half.
Baylor scored on a one-yard run midway through the third quarter to put the Knights up 42-0.
Clarkdale responded on the ensuing drive, moving the ball 62 yards on six plays to score on a five-yard run by Cedric Burns. Kevin McKissack's kick made it 42-7 with 3:57 left in the third.
Each team scored 13 points in the fourth quarter. West scored on a 3-yard run by Matthew Stephens and a 4-yard run by Donathan Fortner, while Clarkdale scored on a 9-yard run by Chris Skinner and a 4-yard run by Jeremy Sirven.
Truesdale, who carried the ball only once in the second half, led West Lauderdale with 113 rushing yards on eight carries, while Baylor had 73 yards on seven attempts and Fortner had eight rushes for 70 yards. Davis was 4-of-5 passing for 69 yards.
Burns led Clarkdale with 72 rushing yards on 16 carries, while Skinner had seven carries for 57 yards.
Clarkdale, 0-1, pays a visit to arch-rival Enterprise on Friday night, while West Lauderdale hosts Philadelphia.
