JOHNSTON – Richard Winn’s undefeated football team traveled to Johnston on Oct. 30 for their final regular season game against the Wardlaw Patriots. At the end of regulation play, it was the Eagles who exited the field with a 34-6 victory while also capturing the region championship.
Senior standout B Baker got the Eagles on the scoreboard first, rushing for a long yardage touchdown with 2:26 remaining in the opening quarter of action. The PAT failed. RWA’ held the 6-0 lead as the first quarter ended.
Second quarter play included an interception by Lawson Wade and a rushing touchdown by quarterback Landon Caulder to put the Eagles up 12-0 with 11:10 remaining in the first half. Wardlaw got on the scoreboard for the first and only time with 2:52 left in the second quarter.
The Eagle offense wasted little time in adding to their total before halftime. With 1:36 remaining, Caulder connected with Rob Wilson for a long touchdown pass, and then Caulder rushed for the 2-pt. conversion. RWA held the 20-6 lead at the half.
Caulder started the third quarter scoring action with a rushing TD and then completed a 2 pt. conversion pass to Austin Lancaster to boost the Eagles’ lead to 28-6 with 7:56 left on the clock.
The Eagles’ defensive pressure was relentless, and Baker jumped on a Patriot fumble less than 20 seconds into their possession. The third quarter ended with the Eagles still on top, 28-6.
Spires got his second interception of the game just as the fourth quarter got underway, but the Eagles weren’t able to convert the turnover into a score. At the 9:30 mark, RWA’s Campbell Sims recovered a Patriot fumble to put the Eagles back on offense. Caulder and Wilson teamed up once more as Caulder found Wilson open to score his second touchdown of the game with 5:14 remaining. The 2-pt. conversion failed. The Eagles closed out the game with the 34-6 victory and their ninth straight win.
“Our guys did an excellent job of staying focused on our goals for the game,” head coach Paul Brigman said. “We were highly motivated to wrap up the region, and our guys came out and played well. B baker was once again our leader rushing for over 100 yards again. Landon Caulder has gotten better each week at QB and played a huge role on Friday with two big TD passes.”
Brigman said the team is excited about capturing the region title and is looking forward to being home for the playoffs.
RWA rushed 24 times for 150 yards and 3 touchdowns. Baker led the individual rushing stats with 101 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. Caulder had 2 rushing touchdowns with 32 yards total on 8 rushes and 2 passing touchdowns for 120 yards while completing 8 of 15 passes. Wilson topped the receiving category with 4 catches for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns. Spires had 3 catches for 35 yards and 2 interceptions.
Defensively the Eagles held the Patriots to 136 yards total on 62 plays. Sims led the team with 15 tackles and a fumble recovery. J Talbert and Brian King had 13 tackles apiece, Baker had 10, Jacob Chaisson, 8, Connor Little, 6, and Colt Hatchell, 5 tackles and a sack.
The 1-A 8-Man Region Champion Eagles earned a top seed in the playoff bracket and will host the first round on Friday, Nov. 5, against the Clarendon Hall Saints. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.