The Wardlaw defense takes down Eagle quarterback Matt Taylor.
JOHNSTON – Richard Winn Academy outperformed Wardlaw Academy Friday night in every category but one – the final score, as the Patriots pounded the Eagles 60-27 in RWA’s final road contest of the season.
The Patriots got on the board first, and quickly, scoring on their second play from scrimmage with a 26-yard run. The 2-point attempt put Wardlaw up 8-0 only minutes into the game.
Wardlaw went up 16-0 on their next possession, taking over after a Richard Winn punt and capping the drive with a 23-yard run.
The Eagles took their next possession deep into Wardlaw territory, only to see the Patriot defense turn the tables on them. The Wardlaw D jarred the ball loose from the grip of Matt Taylor, scooped up the fumble and scampered 75 yards the other way for the score. The 2-point conversion made it 24-0 Wardlaw.
With the Eagle defense back on the field following another RWA punt, the Patriots looked to be stopped at their own 9-yard line. But Wardlaw’s quarterback called his own number on the draw and exploded for a 91-yard touchdown run. The 2-point attempt failed, but Wardlaw held a commanding 30-0 lead. The Pat’s added 8 more before the quarter ran out on a 20-yard touchdown pass and 2-point conversion to go up 38-0 after one.
The Eagles finally broke through in the second quarter when Taylor hit Mitchell Gibbons with a 33-yard touchdown strike. Gibbons chucked the 2-point conversion to Coker Gilbert to cut the Wardlaw lead to 38-8.
Wardlaw struck back to go up 46-8, but the Eagles answered again. Taylor capped an impressive Eagle drive with a 67-yard touchdown run on the quarterback keeper and the Gibbons kick made it 46-15. The Pat’s tacked on the final points of the half on a 54-yard run to go up 54-15 at the break.
While the Eagles’ defense kept Wardlaw out of the end zone in the third quarter, Taylor notched the only points of the period for RWA on a 2-yard dive. The point after came up short, but the Wardlaw lead was now 54-21.
The Eagles earned their final points of the contest in the fourth, starting their drive from their own 33. From there, Taylor found an open lane in the Patriots’ defense and erupted for a 67-yard scoring run. The 2-point attempt failed and the Patriots’ lead was now 54-27.
Wardlaw added a final touchdown mid-way through the fourth quarter, sending the Eagles home with a resounding defeat.
Richard Winn returns home this week to host Pee Dee Academy at 7:30.
RW – 0-15-6-6 – 27
WA – 38-16-0-6 – 60
RWA WA
First Downs 17 15
Rushes/Yards 46-308 26-260
Passing Yards 134 46
C-A-I 13-17-1 2-4-0
Fumbles/Lost 2-2 0-0
RUSHING: RWA – John Coleman 6-11, Matt Taylor 21-192, Austin Knox 13-81, P. Gilbert 3-22.
RECEIVING: RWA – Webb Yongue 4-20, Mitchell Gibbons 3-40, John Coleman 4-24, Matt Taylor 1-21, P. Gilbert 1-9.
PASSING: RWA – Matt Taylor 10-14, 94 yards, INT, TD; John Coleman 3-3, 40 yards.
