NORTH AUGUSTA – Westwood faced a mountain of a challenge in the opening round of the 4A State Playoffs against the undefeated North Augusta Yellow Jackets, but the Redhawks were ready. In one fell swoop, Westwood ended North Augusta’s undefeated season and sent them packing from the playoffs with a 23-13 win.
Jaylon Riley (3) picks up a chunk of his 95 rushing yards.
Both offenses came out flat until North Augusta quarterback Landon Washington found Kashaun Johnson for a 14-yard score with just a second left in the first quarter. North Augusta’s first and only lead lasted just a few seconds.
TJ Blanding fielded the ensuing kickoff for Westwood and turned on the jets for a 98-yard kick return touchdown. That got the ball rolling for Westwood’s run of 23 unanswered points that lasted until the fourth quarter.
Redhawks QB Elijah Heatley was lethal from under center last week and this week was no different. He went for 15 for 19 passing with 214 yards and two touchdown tosses.
His first touchdown pass came late in the second quarter. He connected with the dangerous playmaker Cam Atkins for a 43-yard touchdown, but Heatley was not satisfied with the 13-7 lead.
Heatley struck again with just over a minute left in the half. His 19-yard touchdown pass to Christian Horn stretched the lead to 20-7.
Joseph Washington (90) busts the Yellowjacket play up in the backfield.
North Augusta needed a big play to get out of the hole they dug in the first half, and they nearly got it. Yellow Jacket receiver Kashaun Johnson hit Dejuan Bell for a 60-yard touchdown, but penalties negated the big play.
Westwood added some insurance points late in the third quarter with a 31-yard field goal. The clutch field goal put Westwood ahead 23-7 with 12 minutes left to play.
Landon Washington struck late in the fourth for a 14-yard Yellow Jacket touchdown pass, but they could not muster anything up behind it.
After the upset, Westwood moves on to the second round to do battle with the Eastside Eagles. Eastside, 10-1, is led by former Blythewood Bengal coach Dan Morgan.
Scoring
WHS– 7-13-3-0-23
NA– 7-0-0-6–13
First Quarter
NA – Kashaun Johnson 14 pass from Landon Washington (Tyler Nichols kick). :01.
WHS – Tj Blanding 98 kick return (D.Strother III kick). :00.
Second Quarter
WHS – Cam Atkins 43 pass from Elijah Heatley (D.Strother kick no good). 4:25.
WHS – Christian Horn 19 pass from E.Heatley (D.Strother kick).1:05.
Third Quarter
WHS – D.Strother 31 field goal. 2:36.
Fourth Quarter
NA – Tez Collins 14 pass from L.Washington (L.Washington two-point pass no good).3:15.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing: WHS – Jaylon Riley 27-95, Joshua Heyward 3-71, Elijah Heatley 1 – (-3). NA – DeAndre McKinnis 13-82, Landon Washington 6-1, Kashaun Johnson 2-3, Dejuan Bell 1-4,Chris Torres 1-0.
Passing: WHS – Elijah Heatley 15-19 214 yards, two touchdowns. NA – Landon Washington 19-30, 221, two touchdowns, two interceptions.
Receiving: WHS – Christian Horn 7-98, Montre Miller 1-8, Cortes Braham 3-35, Jaylon Riley 1-15, Cam Atkins 2-55, Brandon Williams 1-3. NA – Kashaun Johnson 5-53- Tez Collins 4-48, Lonnie Lee 4-48, Dejuan Bell 3-60, DeAndre McKinnins 2-8, Junius Wlalker 1-4.
