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| Westview uses highlight reel plays in clock-controlling regional victory |
By: Rob Beam — Special to The Press
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Posted: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 1:50 pm
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After opening the season with a win the week before, the Westview Chargers looked to move into the Region 8-2A portion of their schedule in the same fashion last Friday night. With some electrifying plays, the Chargers accomplished a successful start against their regional foes. Westview reminded many in the stands of some of the NFL's most famous plays on its way to a 33-13 win over the visiting Jackson Christian School Eagles Friday night at Graham Stadium in Martin.
The Chargers started the game by putting together a solid drive, but quarterback Tanner Spencer lost the ball on a hard run fighting for a first down to stall the march deep in Eagle territory.
With the turnover, the Eagles looked to capitalize. Running the ball twice, JCS gained no yardage as the Westview defense closed the gaps quickly. An incompletion forced a punt.
Tevin Evans of Westview took advantage of a short punt from JCS' Cody Jones, who also handles the QB duties. Returning from his own 30-yard line, Evans spun out of two tackles and took off. Avoiding two more tacklers, Evans looked to go down the field. With only the kicker to beat, the sophomore got behind a hustling Bradley Hahn, who blocked Jones out of the way, allowing Evans to finish the last 40 yards of the 70-yard return untouched. The long return and Hyantae Kim’s PAT opened a 7-0 lead for the Chargers.
JCS was not intimidated by the early domination from the Chargers as the Eagles continued to commit to the run. Known more for their air attack, the Eagles ate up yardage but come up short until two series later. Jackson Christian closed the first quarter with a touchdown run by Will Johnson tying the game at 7-all.
JCS had the ball again early in the second quarter only to see a turnover end its drive. JCS QB Jones broke free on a bootleg, but right at the goal line, Jones was tracked down by WHS defensive lineman Travis Martin who punched the ball free from behind into the end zone where it was recovered by the Chargers’ Joseph Hicks. The play reminded everyone in the stands of Dan Beebe chasing down and stripping the ball from Leon Lett in the Cowboys win over Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVII. With the touchback, Westview started on its own 20. Controlling the clock, the Chargers embarked on a 16-play drive using over nine minutes and resulting in a 20-yard field goal by Kim with 35 seconds left in the half to give WHS a slim 10-7 lead at the intermission.
Invigorated by the long, dominating drive to end the second quarter, the second half saw the Chargers come out like a new team. JCS did not, however, elevate its game.
Looking like old footage of Chicago Bear great Walter Payton running a sweep, Westview’s Demarcus Williams glided down the sideline on a 53-yard run to paydirt to open a 17-7 lead for Westview.
“Making the game a two possession lead was a good way for us to start the second half. I think that really worked to our advantage in the mindset of our players,” Westview head coach Don Coady said.
Each team had two drives in the third period; the difference was Westview scored on its pair of possessions while JCS was held in check.
The finish of the second Westview drive looked like one of the most famous plays ever on Monday Night Football. Big Charger senior J.C. Griggs took the handoff for a 6-yard run up the middle. The Eagles’ middle linebacker faced Griggs head on. The defender went backwards as Griggs plowed over him on his way to the end zone in a virtual replay of Raider Bo Jackson running over Seahawk Brian Bosworth 20 years ago.
Westview sealed the win on the next two kickoffs by forcing fumbles on the returns. With the short fields, the Chargers scored on another Kim field goal and a Spencer keeper for a 1-yard TD to finish the Westview scoring in a 33-13 win.
“We gave up some yardage tonight once you look at the final stats, but we only gave up 13 points to a potent offensive team. So that was a big deal to give us a chance to win. Our special teams did a good job coming up with some big plays for us tonight,” Coady added.
Westview (2-0, 1-0) will host Henry County at 7:30 on Friday night in Martin.
Jackson Christian-Westview, Stats
Jackson Christian 7 0 0 6—13
Westview 7 3 14 9—33
First Quarter
WHS — Tevin Evans 70-yard punt return, (Hyantae Kim kick), 6:51.
JCS — Will Johnson 11-yard run, (Cody Jones kick), 3:16.
Second Quarter
WHS — Kim 20-yard field goal, 00:35.
Third Quarter
WHS — Demarcus Williams 53-yard run, (Kim kick), 7:25.
WHS — J.C. Griggs 6-yard run, (Kim kick), 00:28.
Fourth Quarter
WHS — Kim 35-yard field goal, 10:53.
WHS — Tanner Spencer 1-yard run, (Kim kick).
JCS — Jonathan Payne 10-yard run, (kick failed).
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JCS WHS
First Downs 12 17
Rushes-yards 23-230 45-228
Passing yards 109 79
Comp-Att-Int 8-14-1 9-15-0
Punts 1-15 1-36
Fumbles-Lost 4-3 3-2
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Individual Statistics
Rushing — Jackson Christian, Cody Jones 11-109, Will Johnson 6-71, Jonathan Payne 3-32, Drae Bowles 3-18; Westview, Demarcus Williams 23-135, J.C. Griggs 8-42, Tanner Spencer 7-37, Tremaine McKinley 5-14, Chris Gardner 1-2, Brian West 1-(-2).
Passing — Jackson Christian, Jones 8-14-1 — 109; Westview, Spencer 9-15-0 — 79.
Receiving — Jackson Christian, Bowles 3-82, Parker 1-8, Perkins 1-8, Johnson 2-7, J. Johnson 1-4; Westview, Griggs 4-45, Gardner 3-18, Seth Waterfield 1-9, Alex Hazelwood 1-7.
Records — Jackson Christian School 1-1 (0-1 Region 8-2A), Westview 2-0 (1-0 Region 8-2A).
Next Game — Jackson Christian School will visit Davidson Academy, while the Westview Chargers will entertain the Henry County Patriots. Both games will kick off at 7:30 on Friday night.
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