FLORENCE- The Westwood Redhawks traveled far away from home this week, like last week’s visit to Westside, to take on the South Florence Bruins on Saturday. After falling to a stout Westside team last week, the Redhawks found some redemption this week, with a 39-14 routing of the Bruins.
The Redhawks’ offense surged with four hundred total yards, including an 181 yard and two touchdown passing performance by Ahmon Greene, who split snaps with Elijah Heatley. Heatley began Westwood’s streak of 27 unanswered points with a short keeper from four yards out.
Bruins quarterback Hunter Benton was picked off by Redhawks defender Will Samuels, and Samuels proceeded to take the ball back 35 yards to the house for Westwood’s next score. Redhawk cornerbacks Dermonti Romey and TJ Blanding were also the recipients of Hunter Benton’s three total interceptions.
Jaylon Riley makes two defenders miss then follows his blockers. | Photo/Leroy Howard
After a quarter of play the Bruins trailed 12-0, and things would get worse before they got better for Florence. Ahmon Greene came on strong in the second and put the Redhawks in the driver seat. Greene connected with Cortes Braham from 22 yards out for the first score of the second quarter, but the big play was yet to come.
Greene’s stats got a huge boost with a completion to Christian Horn, who took the ball 85 yards to the house. After a successful two-point conversion, the Redhawks seized a 27-0 lead, their biggest lead of the season. The Bruins must have gotten quite the talking to at half; they came out and produced their first effective drive of the game to start the third.
Cameron Harper capped the Bruin’s first scoring possession with a six-yard run. Harper was one of the Bruins’ few offensive bright spots with a touchdown and 59 yards rushing, second among South Florence’s skill players. Only Rivers Benton had more with 96 receiving yards.
The Bruins first spurt of offense was quickly countered when Cortes Braham took the kickoff 99 yards for the score, and after a failed two-point conversion the Redhawks were back up 33-7. After three interceptions, Hunter Benton got his first tastes of the success in the game on the Bruins next drive.
Benton delivered a big score in the form of a 34-yard pass to Rivers Benton, but just like with their first score, the Redhawks answered right back, and this time it would be enough to end the game. Ahmon Greene flexed his legs after using his arm most of the night, and scored on a 12-yard QB keeper.
Westwood, 2-1, looks to keep up their winning ways next week with their first home game, against a very tough defensive Blythewood team. The Bengals, also 2-1, picked up a win last week against Fairfield Central in a gritty 9-6 contest that was the Sonic Friday Night Rival game of the week.
Scoring
WHS- 12-15-12-0-39
SFHS- 0-0-14-0-14
First Quarter
WHS- Elijah Heatley 4 run (David Strother III kick no good).
WHS- Will Samuel 35 interception ( D. Strother III kick no good).
Second Quarter
WHS- Cortes Braham 22 pass from Ahmon Greene (D.Strother III kick).
WHS- Christian Horn 85 pass from A.Greene (Two-point conversion).
Third Quarter
SFHS- Cameron Harper 6 run (Sam Tindall kick).
WHS- Cortes Braham 99 kick return (Two-point conversion failed).
SFHS- Rivers Benton 34 pass from Hunter Benton (S.Tindall kick).
WHS- A.Greene 12 run (D.Strother III kick no good).
Rushing: WHS- Jaylon Riley 12-70, Elijah Heatley 2-7, Ahmon Greene 5-55, Joshua Heyward 8-47, Deshawn Boyd 7-6, . SFHS- Hunter Benton 5-8, Terrel Thomas 2-3, Cameron Harper 20-59.
Receiving: WHS- Trini Feggett 4-22, Cortes Braham 3-45, Montre Miller 3-37, Jaylon Riley 1-4,Christian Horn 2-99, Brandon Williams 1-8. SFHS- Jamie Lawson 1-11, Dedric Huggins 2-22, Rivers Benton 3-96, Terrell Thomas 1-3, Cameron Harper 3-19, Tyler Quillens 1-2.
Passing: WHS- Ahmon Greene 11-16, 181 yards, two touchdowns; Elijah Heatley 5-13, 34 yards. SFHS- Hunter Benton 11-24, 153 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions; Reid Herndon 1-3, 3 yards.