WINNSBORO – The Richard Winn Eagles hosted the Newberry Academy Eagles to open region play on Friday, Aug. 30 at Ruff Field in Winnsboro. Richard Winn won the coin toss and deferred possession until the second half.
Newberry turned the ball over on downs after just three plays. The Eagle defense recorded two tackles for loss and forced a punt.
On first and 10 from the Eagle 30 yard line, senior quarterback Charlie Bonds connected with a wide open Josh Tyndall, who scampered 70 yards to the endzone to give the Eagles an early lead. After Bennet Nicholson converted for two points, the Eagles were ahead, 8-0.
After forcing a second Newberry punt, a 48-yard pass from Bonds to senior Jake Gailliard put the Eagles up 14-0. Nicholson again completed the two-point play, giving the Eagles a 16-0 lead with 7:27 remaining in the first quarter.
Josh Tyndall’s kickoff kept Newberry inside their own 10-yard line. The Eagle defense stuffed Newberry and Bonds sacked Newberry quarterback Quinn Waites for a seven-yard loss. A play later, Waites fumbled the ball in his own endzone. Eagle senior Turner Burchell pounced on the ball for the score. Bonds completed the point after attempt for two points, and the Eagles were ahead 24-0.
A pair of punts back and forth gave Newberry possession as the first quarter ended. Two plays into the second quarter, another Newberry punt was returned by Tyndall to the Newberry two-yard line. Bonds scored easily on a quarterback keeper before completing the two point conversion. With just 50 seconds off the clock, the Eagles led 32-0.
On the next drive, Newberry freshman running back Javon Conway came to life, rushing for 60 yards on three plays and moving the ball as far as the Eagle 12-yard line. The Eagle defense created chaos in Newberry’s backfield on the next three plays, and Newberry attempted a 27-yard field goal on 4th down. Jody Miles’ missed kick gave the ball back to the Eagles with just under five minutes remaining in the half.
The Eagles opened the drive with a pair of running plays. An eight yard scurry by Eli Smith and a 27-yard option keeper by Bonds found the Eagles around midfield. Bonds connected with Nicholson on the next play for a 48-yard touchdown. A Nicholson pass to Smith in the back of the endzone completed the two-point play, and the Eagles extended their lead to 40. The second quarter ended with Waites falling on a fumbled football in the Newberry backfield.
Game time was shortened to eight minute quarters with a running clock in the second half. Newberry’s onside kick off to begin the third quarter was scooped up by Nicholson who returned the ball 60 yards for a touchdown. The PAT failed, but the Eagles now led by 46.
Newberry alternated between running backs throughout the third and fourth quarters with greater success. Conway and freshman Asher Stephens shared rushing opportunities and were able to move the ball 46 yards on 10 plays to the Eagle 16 yard line. Waites completed his only pass of the second half to junior Caleb Wilbanks for a 16-yard touchdown. Newberry failed to convert the point after.
With less than a minute remaining, the Eagles downed Newberry’s onside kick. Bonds kneeled twice under center to run out the clock.
Bonds ran for 29 yards and passed for 159 yards on three completions. The Eagles held Newberry to 123 yards of total offense, recorded three sacks and eight tackles for loss. JT Wilkes led the defense with 11 tackles, followed by Bonds, who recorded six.
Eagles Head Coach Paul Brigman thought the team played well and executed their game plan. “We went into the game wanting to open up our offense a little more than we had in week 1. We were able to hit them with some big passes early, which gave us momentum, and our guys played hard the entire night.”
Richard Winn travels to Batesburg-Leesville on Friday to take on WW King. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30pm.