Eagles hang 40 on Crusaders

WINNSBORO – Richard Winn fans packed Ruff Field to take part in the annual homecoming ceremonies, and the Eagles’ performance on the gridiron only added the cherry to the top of the special night. Laurens Academy was outclassed in every aspect of the game and fell 42-8 to the surging Eagles.

Zack Taylor (10) pivots past the Laurens defense. Taylor ripped the Crusaders for five total touchdowns. | Photos/ DeAnna Robinson

The win improved Richard Winn to 6-2 this season and 2-0 in region play. Despite starting at their own three-yard line, Laurens had a promising drive going to open up the game, but eventually they suffered a turnover on downs in Eagle territory.

Peyton Gilbert ripped off a 17-yard rush on the Eagles opening play from scrimmage, and on the next play he went for around 22. The two big plays left Richard in prime position for Zack Taylor to hit Jimmy McKeown for a 13-yard score.

A string of incomplete passes on the next drive led to a Crusader three and out. Richard Winn got the ball on their own 41, and Taylor rang up Johnny Edenfield for a 59-yard score on the first play of the drive.

Laurens found their first and only bit of offensive success with a long possession that spanned five minutes and carried over from the first quarter to the second. Thomas Lowry finished the drive with a 46-yard pass to Charlton McCall, and they converted the two-point conversion to pull within six.

The Crusaders momentum was very short-lived because Richard Winn went on to score four times in the just over three minutes. First was an 18-yard touchdown pass from Taylor to Noah Edwards that answered the Lauren’s score.

Sophomore Gordon Brown (8) shadows the Crusaders running back and looks to prevent him from hitting the open field.

Will Carvalho picked off a Lowry pass on the next drive and returned it back to the Crusaders’ five-yard line. Taylor finished things with a five-yard quarterback keeper straight up the middle for fourth total score of the game.

Richard Winn’s defense kept constant pressure on the Laurens offense, and after a Crusaders’ punt on the next drive, Noah Edwards took the return 57 yards for the score. Taylor ended the scoring onslaught with a 55-yard keeper, and with the score Richard Winn held a commanding 42-8 lead before halftime.

Per SCISA mercy rules, the running clock went into effect, only stopping for timeouts or injuries, and the third and fourth quarters were shorted to eight minutes. The Eagles chewed up the clock most of the second half, and the defensive line continued to swarm Lowry like they had all night.

Richard Winn hosts Jefferson Davis Academy in a pivotal game next week, with just two-more regular contests left to go.

SCORING

RWA:14-28-0-0-42

LA:-0-8-0-0-8

FIRST QUARTER

RWA – Jimmy McKeown 13 pass from Zack Taylor (Brandon Miller kick). 4:48.

RWA – Johnny Edenfield 59 pass from Z.Taylor (B.Miller kick). 3:25

SECOND QUARTER

LA – Charlton McCall 46 pass from Thomas Lowry (T.Lowry pass).10:55.

RWA – Noah Edwards 18 pass from Z.Taylor (B.Miller kick no good). 8:25.

RWA – Z.Taylor 5 run (Z.Taylor rush). 7:54.

RWA – N.Edwards 57 punt return (B.Miller kick). 6:11.

RWA – Z.Taylor 55 run (B.Miller kick). 4:56.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING: RWA- Peyton Gilbert 3-42, Brandon Miller 1-8, Zack Taylor 7-84, Noah Edwards 1-6, Joey Banister 1-0, Marshall Gibbons 2-9, Gordon Brown 1-45, Dru Caldwell 1-1.

RECEIVING: RWA- Gavin Douglas 1-3, Brandon Miller 1-4, Jimmy McKeown 1-13, Johnny Edenfield 1-59, Noah Edwards 1-18.

PASSING: RWA – Zack Taylor 4-6, 94 yards, three touchdowns; Dru Caldwell 1-4, 3 yards.

Contact us: (803) 767-5711 | P.O. Box 675, Blythewood, SC 29016 | [email protected]