RWA quarterback Matt Taylor finds nothing but green grass ahead of him at Laurens Academy.
LAURENS – Richard Winn’s senior quarterback Matt Taylor’s six rushing touchdowns Friday led the Eagles from a 22-19 halftime deficit to a 64-38 win over the Laurens Academy Crusaders, upping their record to an impressive 3-0 in SCISA 8-man football.
Richard Winn took a an early 7-0 lead on Taylor’s 3-yard TD run and Mitchell Gibbons’ PAT kick with 10:12 on the clock. The Crusaders answered back, however, as Robert Williams snagged an 8-yard scoring pass to give Laurens Academy an 8-7 lead after the first quarter. The Eagles had their chances to make hay from a pair of interceptions by junior DB Webb Yongue, but could not capitalize with penalties and miscues.
Josh Urwick’s 34-yard touchdown reception with 8:49 to play in the second pushed Laurens out front 16-7, but Taylor cut that lead down to 16-13 on a 33-yard run just seconds later. Urwick struck again with 3:47 to go before the half with an 11-yard touchdown reception, giving Laurens a 22-13 lead. With only second to go before the break, Richard Winn’s John Coleman broke a 31-yard run to cut the Laurens lead to 22-19.
“We played a mediocre first half, which could have hurt us” RWA head coach Dan Dickerson said. “The second half adjustments we had in place, we did not practically use. We kept with our game plan and we executed in a perfect manner.”
The third quarter would prove to be the exclamation mark on the game for the Eagles offense, as Taylor exploded with a touchdown on every possession in the quarter. Although the Crusaders rattled off a quick score to go up 30-19, Taylor erased that lead and then some.
“Matt is a great kid and his teammates love to follow his lead,” Dickerson said. “He is one of the hardest working kids on the team and no matter the obstacle, he will not go down without a fight.”
Taylor’s 58-yard rushing touchdown with 11:12 on the clock cut the deficit to 29-27. The Eagle defense forced a three and out for the Crusaders, which led to Taylor’s 4-yard TD run with 10:30 to play. Nic Stillwell added the 2-point conversion, giving the Eagles the 35-30 edge.
The RWA defense forced a turnover on the next Laurens possession, which was recovered by Eagles senior Wyatt Adams. That set Taylor up for another scoring run, this time from 18 yards out as Laurens Academy would begin to reel from the offensive output from the Eagles. Gibbons’ kick put the Eagles up 42-30 with 4:39 left in the third.
Taylor added his final blow with just 9 seconds left in the quarter on a 25-yard run. Gibbons again nailed the PAT and the Eagles were up 49-30.
Laurens got on the scoreboard midway through the fourth, but a pair of Webb Yongue touchdown runs put the game entirely out of reach.
Richard Winn puts their 3-0 record on the line at home this Friday (Sept. 12) against Charleston Collegiate.
RW: 7-12-30-15 – 64
LA: 8-14-8-8 – 38
Scoring
First Quarter
RW: Matt Taylor 3 run. Mitchell Gibbons kick. (10:12)
LA: Robert Williams 8 pass from Jones. Jones run. (4:04)
Second Quarter
LA: Josh Urwick 34 pass from Jones. Jones run. (8:49)
RW: M. Taylor 33 run. PAT failed. (8:10)
LA: Urwick 11 pass from Jones. Wilson run. (3:47)
RW: John Coleman 31 run. PAT failed. (0:24)
Third Quarter
LA: Urwick 65 pass from Jones. Jones run. (11:35)
RW: M. Taylor 58 run. Taylor run. (11:12)
RW: M. Taylor 4 run. Nic Stillwell run. (10:30)
RW: M. Taylor 18 run. M. Gibbons kick. (4:39)
RW: M. Taylor 25 run. M. Gibbons kick. (0:09)
Fourth Quarter
RW: Webb Yongue 1 run. M. Gibbons kick. (8:21)
LA: Peyton Robertson 18 pass from Jones. Smith run. (7:13)
RW: W. Yongue 56 run. M. Gibbons run. (3:47)
Team Stats
RW LA
First Downs 18 17
Rushes/Yards 47-380 26-95
Passing Yards 91 323
C-A-Int 7-14-0 20-36-2
Fumbles/Lost 1-1 2-2
Individual Stats
RUSHING: RW—John Coleman 6-84, Matt Taylor 28-196, Webb Yongue 8-95, Gunnar Hensley 5-5.
RECEIVING: RW—Blake Pauley 3-21, John Coleman 1-6, Hunter Gibbons 1-41, Conrad Sharpe 1-5, Gunnar Hensley 1-21.
PASSING: RW—Matt Taylor 7-14, 91 yards.
