Richard Winn’s Alex Scott churns ahead for the first down and more Friday night.
The Richard Winn Eagle soared to a big victory, 63-42, Friday night, as they recorded their first win of the season on the road in Summerville against the Ridge Christian Paladins. The RWA offense took advantage of every single possession in the first quarter to post points on the scoreboard and jumped out to command a 56-20 half time lead.
Eagle Wyatt Adams returned the opening kickoff 55 yards to give his team good field position. On the second play from scrimmage, Richard Winn quarterback Austin Knox connected with receiver Reid Johnson for a quick 6 points after only 16 seconds had ticked off the clock. The PAT kick was no good and the Eagles had to settle for early lead, 6-0.
The Paladins returned the ensuing kickoff to their own 41-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs following a quarterback sack by Johnson and the inability to pick up a first down.
On the first play from scrimmage following the turnover, Knox rushed for Winn’s second touchdown. Freshman Webb Yongue caught the 2-point conversion pass from Matt Taylor to put the Eagles up 14-0 with 7 minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
The Eagle defense held tough and prevented the Paladins from moving the chains. Following Ridge Christian’s punt, the Eagle offense went right to work again. This time it was Taylor who rushed across the goal line to score a touchdown. Mason Gibbons’ PAT kick was good, and the Eagles led 21-0.
A Gibbons pooch kick on the following kickoff was recovered by Eagle teammate Zelick Levy to put the Eagles back on offense again. After a 20-yard run by Levy and a face mask penalty, Gibbons rushed up the middle for another Eagle score. The PAT kick was blocked, and with less than a minute left in the first quarter, Richard Winn led 27-0.
The Eagles opened the second quarter with Johnson returning a Paladin punt, but a block in the back penalty and a false start halted the Eagles’ momentum, and Richard Winn turned the ball over on downs. The Paladins used only two plays to convert a long pass completion into a touchdown. The 2-point conversion failed. With 9:06 left in the first half, Ridge Christian trailed 27-6.
The Eagle offense took advantage of good mid-field position from the Paladin onside kick. On third down and 4 to go, Sidney Edenfield carried the ball into the end zone for another Eagle touchdown. Gibbons’ made good on the PAT kick to boost the Eagles’ total to 34.
Ridge Christian returned the following kickoff all the way back for a touchdown. The Paladins also completed their 2-point conversion play to add to boost their total to 14.
The Eagles scored on their next three possessions before the first half ended while the Paladins struck once more. Knox rushed for his second and third touchdowns of the night on a quarterback keeper up the middle and a 50-yard run. The first of the 2-point PATs failed, but Logan Gibbons found his way across the end line for the 2-point conversion following Knox’s third touchdown. With 2:31 remaining in the first half, sophomore Hunter Gibbons rushed for a 32-yard touchdown. Freshman Boyce Walters caught the 2-point conversion pass to give RWA the 56-20 halftime lead.
The second half got under way when Johnson jumped to recover the Paladins’ kickoff fumble. The Eagle offense took advantage of the Paladins’ misfortune. Logan Gibbons hauled in a touchdown pass from Corey Davis, and Mason Gibbons’ PAT kick was good to boost the Eagles’ total to 63 with 9:30 left in the third quarter.
Both teams experienced some trouble hanging onto the ball for the remainder of the game, but it was the Paladins who were able to capitalize on the turnovers. Ridge Christian scored three times in the final quarter to bring their total to 42. Giving many of the younger team members playing time for the majority of the second half, the Eagles held on to win 63-42.
The Eagle offense was led by Knox with three touchdowns, 64 passing yards and 140 rushing yards while averaging 28 yards per carry. Three Eagle touchdowns were credited to the Gibbons’ trio, Mason, Logan and Hunter; the other three Eagle touchdowns were scored by Johnson, Edenfield and Taylor. Two point conversions were completed by Yongue, Logan Gibbons and Walters, and Mason Gibbons made good on three of five PAT kicks. Taylor and John Coleman rushed for 65 and 62 yards, respectively.
Defensively, Coleman had a fumble recovery and assisted on eight tackles. In addition to recovering a fumble and pulling in an interception, Johnson had two solo tackles and assisted on four more. Taylor made five solo tackles, assisted on two others and picked off a Paladin pass.
The Eagles look to capture their second victory of the season this Friday, Sept. 28, as they entertain The Carolina Academy Bobcats for Homecoming. The Homecoming festivities kicked off this past Monday with the Richard Winn student body celebrating Spirit Week, a week of themed dress-up days and games geared to peak school spirit. The Homecoming Queen and Football Sweetheart will be crowned during halftime of the game that begins at 7:30 p.m.
