Hunter Gibbons (5) breaks for the end zone.
CHARLESTON – Faced with their second 2-hour road trip in as many weeks, the Eagles of Richard Winn Academy overcame an early deficit and hammered the Cathedral Academy Generals 50-26 Friday night.
The Generals took their opening possession all the way home for the first points of the night. The Eagle defense, however, thwarted the 2-point conversion attempt, holding the Generals to an early 6-0 lead. Richard Winn answered on their first try, with a sustained drive capped by a 1-yard scoring run by quarterback Matt Taylor. Their extra point attempt was also foiled, but the game was tied 6-6.
Cathedral tacked on a pair of quick scores to tilt the scoreboard to 18-6 in their favor, but the Eagles rebounded on their next drive as Taylor broke a 63-yard touchdown run. Austin Knox handled the 2-point conversion to close the gap to 18-14.
The Eagles jumped out front in the second frame when Knox floated a 35-yard touchdown pass to Webb Yongue, giving Richard Winn a 20-18 lead. The Eagle defense held the Generals on their next possession, forcing a punt that John Coleman fielded at his own 23. Coleman flashed through the Cathedral coverage, returning the punt 77 yards for the touchdown. Nic Stillwell hammered in the 2-point conversion to run the Eagles’ lead to 28-18. Coleman led the Eagles in offense, finishing the night with 160 yards on 14 carries.
As the Generals’ offense crested against the Richard Winn defense, the Eagles’ continued to rack up points. Following another Cathedral punt, the Eagles drove to the Generals’ 23-yard line. From there, Coleman broke through the defense and scampered into the end zone. Taylor added the extra pair to put the Eagles up 36-18. The Generals rallied late in the half, closing the gap to 36-26 at the break on a 17-yard scoring pass.
The Eagles opened the third quarter with another long run by Coleman, this one a 73-yard touchdown sprint. Mitchell Gibbons booted in the extra point to make the score 43-26, where it would stay for the remainder of the period. Richard Winn added the final nail in Cathedral’s coffin in the fourth when Hunter Gibbons plowed into the end zone from 10 yards out. Mitchell Gibbons added the point after for the 50-26 final.
The Eagles are now 1-1 on the season and host Greenwood Christian Friday (Sept. 6) at 7:30 p.m.
RW 14-22-7-7 50
CA 18-8-0-0 26
RWA CA
First downs 12 11
Rushes/yards 44-320 37-185
Passing yards 49 136
C-A-Int-TD 2-3-0 1 TD 9-24-0 1 TD
Fumbles/Lost 5-1 3-1
Individual Stats
RUSHING: RWA – John Coleman 14-160, Hunter Gibbons 12-56, Matt Taylor 17-78, Austin Knox 5-25, Mitchell Gibbons 1-1.
PASSING: RWA – M. Taylor 1-2-14 yards, A. Knox 1-1 35 yards, 1 TD.
RECEVING: RWA – A. Knox 1-14, Webb Yongue 1-25, 1 TD.
First Quarter
CA – Smith, 15 run. PAT failed.
RWA – Matt Taylor 1 run. Kick failed.
CA – Scott 27 pass from Hamrick. PAT failed.
CA – Smith 69 punt return. PAT failed.
RWA – M. Taylor 63 run. Knox 2 run.
Second Quarter
RWA – Webb Yongue 35 pass from A. Knox. Kick failed.
RWA – John Coleman 77 punt return. Nic Stillwell 2 run.
RWA – J. Coleman 23 run. M. Taylor 2 run.
CA – Scott 17 pass from Hamrick. Smith 2 run.
Third Quarter
RWA – J. Coleman 73 run. M. Gibbons kick.
Fourth Quarter
RWA – Hunter Gibbons 10 run. M. Gibbons kick.
