CHARLESTON – Richard Winn had an impressive set of preseason scrimmages, and in the season opener on Friday night, that translated into a massive win over Cathedral Academy. Zack Taylor and Brandon Miller played pivotal roles in RWA’s 57-0 shutout win. Taylor went eight-for-nine with 194 yards passing and three touchdowns. Miller tallied 151 yards on just 10 carries and found the end-zone three times.
Richard Winn surprised Cathedral with an onside kick to begin the game, and Miller found his way on top of the loose ball. Taylor converted the opening-minute sucker-punch into points on the other side with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Hudson Wade.
Less than two minutes later, Miller notched the Eagles second score. They attempted another onside kick after their first score, and Miller found his way to the ball to yet again. Miller finished the drive off himself four plays later with a 31-yard touchdown.
Cathedral spoiled a third consecutive onside kick attempt after the long Miller rushing touchdown. The Generals picked up a hard fought first down, but then the Eagles locked down and forced a punt.
A couple of drives later the Eagles capped off a 72-yard drive in just two plays and went up 22-0 late in the first. Taylor found Wade on the first play of the long scoring drive for a 50-yard strike, and on the next play Taylor got in touch with Jimmy McKeown for a 22-yard touchdown.
That was the last score of the first quarter, but RWA did not take their foot off the gas and had all but put the game away by half time. Less than a minute in to the second quarter, Miller had already scored an 11-yard touchdown. The rushing score was setup by a 40-yard pass from Taylor to McKeown.
Then, McKeown made a splash on the defensive side with an interception and return to the Generals’ 31-yard line. A couple of plays after the interception, Dru Caldwell came in and tossed the first of his two touchdown passes of the game. He found McKeown for a 10-yard score and the Eagles went up 36-0 with 8:45 left in the first half.
Miller struck again after the Eagles defense stalled the Cathedral offensive possession and forced a turnover on downs. Fellow running back Luke Martin got the drive going in the right direction with a 27-yard run. On the very next play, Miller found the big house from 43-yards.
Taylor threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Martin for the final strike of the first half and gave Richard Winn a commanding 50-0 lead.
The only score of the second half came late in the fourth quarter when Dru Caldwell rang-up his second touchdown toss of the game on a 30-yard pass to Tyler Tanner.
Richard Winn hosts Faith/Ridge Academy on Aug.31.
RWA – 22-28-0-7-57
CA – 0-0-0-0-0
First Quarter
RWA– Hudson Wade 15 pass from Zack Taylor. (Brandon Miller kick). 9:27.
RWA – Brandon Miller 31 run. (B.Miller kick). 8:10.
RWA – Jimmy McKeown 22 pass from Z.Taylor (Marshall Gibbons run). 1:25
Second Quarter
RWA-B. Miller 11 run. (two-point attempt no good).11:00.
RWA– J.McKeown 10 pass from Dru Caldwell. (B.Miller run). 8:45.
RWA – B.Miller 43 run. (B.Miller kick). 6:43.
RWA – Luke Martin 21 pass from Zack Taylor. (B.Miller kick). 4:49.
Fourth Quarter
RWA – Tyler Tanner 30 pass from D.Caldwell. (B.Miller kick). 5:38.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing: Brandon Miller 10-151, Luke Martin 4-50, Zack Taylor 1-6, Dru Caldwell 2-(-7), J Talbert 6-(-11).
Receiving: Jimmy McKeown 4-94, Jake Clyburn 4-50, B Baker 3-38, Hudson Wade 2-65, Tyler Tanner 2-25, Lawton Crooks 2-16, Gavin Douglas 2-14, Luke Martin 1-21, J Talbert 1-(-1), Chandler Crooks 1-(-5).
Passing: Zack Taylor 8-9, 194 yards, three touchdowns. Dru Caldwell, 14-16, 123 yds, two touchdowns.
