Bryant Carvalho breaks a touchdown run late in Friday’s semifinal win over Andrew Jackson. (Photo/Martha Ladd)
RWA-56, Andrew Jackson-14
WINNSBORO – Two weeks ago, Richard Winn traveled to Andrew Jackson Academy for their regular season finale with an undefeated record. The Eagles left with their first loss of the season, 46-34, ending their 14-game win streak. Friday night, the Eagles got their revenge with a 56-14 win over the Confederates, paving the way to the SCISA 8-man state championship game.
“The difference between the first time we played Andrew Jackson and tonight was a bus ride,” RWA head coach Dan Dickerson said. “Having the home field advantage was the biggest difference in our victory tonight.”
The Eagles started the game with great field position. Junior Webb Yongue scored first with a 1-yard touchdown run giving the Eagles an early 7-0 lead. The Confederates of Andrew Jackson responded with a great drive on their first possession. Andrew Jackson’s ground game led the way down the field and the Confederates scored with a 1-yard touchdown run by junior Joseph Stanfield. The point-after attempt failed, but the Confederates cut the Eagle lead to 7-6.
The Eagles responded with great field position after a terrible kickoff by the Confederates. Junior John Coleman made Andrew Jackson pay with a 12-yard touchdown run. After a successful 2-point conversion, the Eagles pushed their first quarter lead to 15-6.
The Eagle defense played with much more intensity this time around as they began to shut down the Confederates on offense. The Eagles forced the Confederates to a three-and-out as they tried to answer the RWA touchdown. The Confederates did not make anything better for themselves after a terrible punt gave the Eagles great field position on the Confederates 27-yard line. Senior Matt Taylor capitalized on the prime real estate location with a 1-yard touchdown run to push the Eagle lead to 21-6 late in the first quarter.
Andrew Jackson started the second quarter trying to find an answer for the Eagle defense. The Eagles forced and recovered a fumble, killing the chances for Andrew Jackson to cut into the Eagle lead. Taylor ended all chances for the Confederates, connecting with senior Hunter Gibbons with a 70-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 28-6 early in the second quarter.
Andrew Jackson continued to fight, putting together a hard-nosed drive on their next possession, but another fumble by the Confederates sealed their fate late in the second quarter. The Eagles added another nail to the coffin as Taylor connected with senior Blake Pauley on a 9-yard touchdown pass to give the Eagles a 35-6 lead at halftime.
Andrew Jackson began the second half the same way they ended the first. Another fumble on offense for the Confederates gave the Eagles great field position early in the third quarter. Taylor connected with junior John Coleman on a 40-yard touchdown pass, extending the Eagle lead to 42-6.
The Eagle defense stopped Andrew Jackson cold on their next possession giving the Eagles the ball back with great field position. Taylor then hit sophomore Mitchell Gibbons on a 25-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead late in the third quarter to 49-6.
Although down big going into the final quarter, Andrew Jackson did not wave the white flag. Junior Joseph Stanfield scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 49-14 after the 2-point conversion. The Eagles ended the game with a 22-yard touchdown run by sophomore Bryant Carvalho to give the Eagles the 56-14 victory.
“I could not be any more proud of my boys right now,” Dickerson said. “They believed in our system and have worked hard all year to reach this moment. Now we are one step away from ending up as champions.”
Richard Winn travels to Wilson Hall for the State Championship Game against Carolina Academy Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Eagles gave Carolina Academy a downright spanking back on Oct. 3, blasting the Bobcats 49-28 at home.
AJA: 6-0-0-8 – 14
RWA: 21-14-14-7 – 56
Scoring
First Quarter
RW – Webb Yongue 1 run (Mitchell Gibbons kick). 9:34.
AJ — Joseph Stanfield 1 run (run failed). 7:46.
RW – John Coleman 12 run (Conrad Sharpe 3 pass from Matt Taylor). 5:41.
RW – M. Taylor 1 run (run failed). 1:25
Second Quarter
RW – Hunter Gibbons 70 pass from M. Taylor (M. Gibbons kick). 7:52.
RW – Blake Pauley 9 pass from M. Taylor (M. Gibbons kick). 1:17.
Third Quarter
RW – J. Coleman 40 pass from M. Taylor (M. Gibbons kick). 5:35.
RW – M. Gibbons 25 pass from M. Taylor (M. Gibbons kick). 0:55.
Fourth Quarter
AJ – J. Stanfield 2 run (Stanfield run). 9:54
RW – Bryant Carvalho 22 run (M. Gibbons kick). 3:04.
Team Stats
AJA RWA
First Downs 14 11
Rushes/Yards 41-277 31-217
Passing Yards 3 193
C-A-I 1-5-0 8-12-0
Fumbles/Lost 4-4 0-0
Individual Stats
RUSHING: RW – John Coleman 9-38, Matt Taylor 9-50, Webb Yongue 10-95, Gunnar Hensley 2-12, Bryant Carvalho 1-22.
RECEIVING: RW – Webb Yongue 1-20, John Coleman 2-32, Hunter Gibbons 1-70, Blake Pauley 1-9, Conrad Sharpe 1-12, Mitchell Gibbons 1-25.
PASSING: RW – Matt Taylor 7-11, 181 yards, 4 TDs; Gunnar Hensley 1-1, 12 yards.