Senior quarterback Matt Taylor races into the end zone. (Photo/Martha Ladd)
WINNSBORO – Friday night’s game might have started 30 minutes earlier than usual, but the Eagles of Richard Winn still continued their winning ways even after a sluggish start, bouncing the Bobcats of Carolina Academy 49-28.
The Bobcat defense flew around the ball to stop the Eagles on their opening possession of the game. The Eagle defense, meanwhile, struggled on the Bobcats opening drive. The Bobcats’ run game helped produce a long first drive, which kept the explosive Eagle offense on the sideline. The Bobcats finished their first drive with a 3-yard touchdown run by Hunter Smith. The 2-point conversion attempt failed, but the ‘Cats had gained an early 6-0 edge.
The Eagles second possession began with great field position, but the Eagle offense continued to struggle to find a rhythm. A Bobcat penalty on defense would save the Eagles’ second possession on offense and the Eagles made the Bobcats pay as senior quarterback Matt Taylor scored on a 44-yard touchdown run. Junior Nic Stillwell added the 2-point conversion to give the Eagles an 8-6 lead in the first quarter.
The RWA defense finally woke up on the Bobcats’ next possession, ending the drive nearly as soon as it had begun. The Eagles forced the Bobcat offense to punt, which opened the door for the Big Blue Scoring Machine. Taylor added the finale to the drive, scoring on a 57-yard sprint to give the Eagles a 14-6 lead late in the first.
The Eagle special teams forced a fumble on the following kickoff, which was recovered by senior Conrad Sharpe. Taylor scored on the very next play with a scorching 25-yard touchdown run. Sophomore Mitchell Gibbons connected with junior Coker Gilbert for the 2-point conversion to give the Eagles a 22-6 lead to end the quarter.
The pair of SCISA 8-man squads exchanged blows in the second frame for essentially a zero-sum game. Carolina Academy struck first with a 5-yard touchdown run by Smith. Joe Wilson tacked on the 2-point run, trimming the Eagle lead to 22-14. RWA junior John Coleman answered the Bobcat score with a 58-yard touchdown run on the Eagles’ next possession, pushing the Eagle lead back up 14 points.
The Bobcats responded with a great drive late into the second quarter, capping the possession with a 2-yard Wilson run. The 2-point try fell short, but the ‘Cats had cut the Eagle lead to 8 with 1:59 remaining in the half.
With time running out before the break, Taylor led the Eagles down the field in a rapid-fire, shock-and-awe drive. Taylor finished the deal with 26 ticks left on the clock, connecting with senior Conrad Sharpe on a 13-yard touchdown pass. Gibbons hammered in the 2-point conversion for a 36-20 lead at the half.
The Bobcats made a late run of their own, but junior Webb Yongue intercepted a Steve Haney pass before the half to keep the ‘Cats off the board.
Yongue added to his great defensive play before the half to score the only touchdown of the third quarter on a 14-yard run. The Eagle offense scored its last touchdown of the game early into the fourth quarter on a 30-yard touchdown run by Taylor to push their lead to 49-20.
The Bobcats would score one more touchdown on a 6-yard touchdown run by Smith with 7:35 left in the game, but it would not be enough as the Eagles held on for their seventh victory in a row.
The Eagles are proving to be a juggernaut in their region as they continue to dominate their opponents. They look to continue their run this Friday against Wardlaw Academy. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
CA: 6-14-0-8 – 28
RW: 22-14-7-6 – 49
Scoring
First Quarter
CA – Smith 3 run (run failed). 6:05
RW – Matt Taylor 44 run (Nic Stillwell run). 4:57.
RW – M. Taylor 57 run (pass failed). 1:01.
RW – M. Taylor 25 run (Coker Gilbert 3 pass from Mitchell Gibbons). 0:17.
Second Quarter
CA – Smith 5 run (Wilson run). 7:29.
RW – John Coleman 58 run (pass failed). 6:39.
CA – Wilson 2 run (pass failed). 1:59.
RW – Conrad Sharpe 13 pass from M. Taylor (M. Gibbons run). 0:26.
Third Quarter
RW – Webb Yongue 14 run (M. Gibbons kick). 7:37.
Fourth Quarter
RW – M. Taylor 30 run (kick failed). 10:32.
CA – Smith 6 run (Wilson run). 7:35.
Team Stats
CA RW
First Downs 18 14
Rushes/Yards 35-260 36-312
Passing Yards 59 55
C-A-INT 5-9-2 7-12-0
Fumbles/Lost 2-1 1-0
Individual Stats
RUSHING: RW – John Coleman 5-85, Matt Taylor 19-187, Webb Yongue 7-33, Gunnar Hensley 2-6, Peyton Gilbert 3-1.
RECEIVING: RW – John Coleman 4-10, Gunnar Hensley 1-3, Conrad Sharpe 1-13, Mitchell Gibbons 1-29.
PASSING: RW – Matt Taylor 7-12, 55 yards, TD.
