WEST COLUMBIA- Westwood (2-2) built major momentum heading into their big rivalry matchup at home against Blythewood after a convincing, 31-7 victory at Airport (0-3) on Friday.
Senior kicker Cullen Henderson drilled a 23-yard field goal to give Westwood the 3-0 lead in the first quarter, but Airport would retake the lead via a deep, 32-yard touchdown strike from freshman quarterback Jay Eady to 6-foot-3, 185-pound sophomore wide receiver Richard Harley. He used his big frame and long arms to make the towering catch in the end zone with 2:35 remaining in the period.
Carrington Carter established a strong connection with junior wide receiver Tyreck Jenkins, directed the offense, and showed off exciting ability as a passer in the first half. But he could not find the end zone for the Redhawks, and he would make his first major mistake on the very next drive, tossing an interception to sophomore defensive back Seanjohn McCray and setting up Airport with the chance to take a 14-3 lead heading into the half.
But after the elusive Eady put the Eagles near striking distance with a crucial 19-yard run from their own 31-yard line to midfield, the Redhawks’ physical, smash mouth defense contained the athletic quarterback and stymied Airport’s attempt at taking a two-score lead into the locker room.
It all started when senior linebacker Ako Taylor ran across the field in hot pursuit of Eady. He stopped the speedy signal-caller in his tracks for no gain to bring up 2nd and 10 from the 50-yard line with 1:07 remaining.
Eady would take off running two more times before Airport senior punter Weston Mims would make a booming 44-yard punt, pinning Westwood at their own two-yard line with little time remaining in the quarter.
The Redhawks’ defense would hold steady.
On 2nd and 15 from the 45-yard line with 59 seconds to go, senior defensive back Christian Smith and linebacker Jarvis Hall would hold Eady to a one-yard gain. He would make multiple defenders miss on 3rd and 14 for a six-yard gain on the following play.
The impressive final stand on defense would set the tone for Westwood in the second half. “We challenged them at halftime to come out the way that we wanted them to play, and I think they did that in the second half,” said head coach Robert O’Connell.
The Redhawks would force Mims into another punt during Airport’s first drive after the break. Then, Westwood would capitalize on an 18-yard slant route thrown on the dime from Carter.
The touchdown score would complete a clock-consuming, 54-yard drive that would bring the Redhawks out to a 10-7 lead with 6:43 remaining in the third quarter. The drive would feature a strong, consistent, ground-and-pound rushing attack from Carter and Rios utilizing a ball-control offense.
But Airport would return fire on the following sequence, utilizing the exact same strategy behind junior running back Kendrick Pearson. But on 3rd and 1 at the Redhawks’ 49 yard-line, Westwood’s defense would once again hold strong.
Eady was met by multiple defenders in the backfield for a six-yard sack, forcing the Eagles to punt. But a Redhawks’ penalty set up Airport with a 4th and 2, giving the Eagles an opportunity to gamble and potentially retake the lead. They snapped the ball to their hard-hitting senior inside linebacker Bryant Cherry, who would muscle his way to pick up the first down.
But defensive pressure would eventually force the freshman quarterback into making a costly mistake during a third-down attempt from the Eagles’ 45-yard line. After being rushed by several Westwood defenders, he would throw a desperation shovel pass into the hands of senior defensive lineman Matthew McCoy, who would return it for a touchdown with 1:42 remaining in the quarter.
Junior running back Quentin McGill would take a direct snap up the middle to cash in on a two-point conversion to extend the Redhawks’ lead to 18-7, and they wouldn’t look back. “We have played really well on defense, but we haven’t had a play like that. So obviously, that was really good to see,” he said.
Rios would power through the Eagles’ defense on another time-consuming run-heavy Westwood march to the end zone. Airport would hold the sophomore steady at the goal line on second and third down, but the Redhawks would once again call the name of the electric McGill to punch it in from close range.
The sophomore found the end zone from three yards from three yards, bringing Westwood out to a 24-7 lead with 6:02 remaining in the fourth quarter. Henderson would miss the extra point, but the Redhawks was back in business with 5:50 after junior defensive back Zion Oliver recorded a leaping, acrobatic interception that brought Westwood fans to their feet with 5:50 remaining in the period.
The Redhawks would once again march down the field from their own 42-yard line, and this time, it was Rios who would find the end zone for a two-yard score with 4:06.
