WINNSBORO – Friday, October 11 was Homecoming at Richard Winn Academy, and the Eagles hosted the W.W. King Knights from Batesburg. Richard Winn received the onside kick off at the Knights 43 yard line. On their opening drive, the Eagles scored first on a 24 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Charlie Bonds to Jake Gaillard. Bonds converted for two points to give the Eagles an 8-nothing lead.
On their first possession, the Knights turned a sack into positive yards after an unnecessary roughness penalty against the Eagles. The Eagle defense answered after a JT Wilkes sack forced a King punt.
The Eagles would score quickly on a three-play drive that saw Bonds connect with Josh Tyndall for a 32 yard touchdown. Tyndall’s kick split the uprights and the Eagles were ahead 15-0.
The Eagle defense only allowed two yards on the Knights’ next series, forcing another punt. The punt traveled out of bounds at the King 36 yard line, giving the Eagles excellent field position. Eli Smith took a handoff from Bonds 26 yards to the 10 yard line before Bonds scampered the remaining 10 yards for the score. Tyndall’s kick put the Eagles up by 22 in the first quarter.
A pair of big third down runs sparked life into the Knights offense as running back Joseph Morse and quarterback Jacob Clamp combined for 62 yards. Clamp crossed the goal line but failed to complete the two-point conversion, and the Eagles led 22-6.
The Eagles answered as Bonds led a fifty yard drive on the ground, culminating in a two-yard handoff to Smith for a touchdown. Tyndall’s kick extended the lead 29-6.
Missed tackles by the Eagles resulted in an 82 yard kickoff return by Morse for a touchdown. Morse converted for two points, shrinking the deficit to 15.
Bonds led a five-play, 41 yard drive in two minutes into the end zone on a 2 yard quarterback keeper. Tyndall’s kick was no good, but the Eagles were up 35-14. Neither team would score before halftime.
Richard Winn presented Homecoming Court at Halftime, and Rees Castles was crowned both Football Sweetheart and Homecoming Queen.
The Knights received the opening kickoff of the second half. Despite a Morse run for 45 yards to the Eagle 16 yard line, the defense held and the Eagles took possession at the 11 yard line.
Bonds opened the series with a 26 yard run to the 35 yard line. One play later, Bonds found an open Gaillard for a sixty-five yard touchdown. Tyndall’s kick missed to the right, but the Eagles took a 41-14 lead.
King returned the Eagle kickoff to their own 15 yard line and a sequence of runs by Clamp and Morse found the Knights cutting the lead to 21. A trick play halfback pass helped the Knights add two points with eight and a half minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles sputtered on the next drive and gave up possession after an Eagle fumble on the 50 yard line. Clamp gained 37 yards on a keeper to the Eagle six yard line. On third down, Clamp pitched the ball to Morse who scored easily, and the Knights trailed by 13 with four minutes left.
After Nicholson ran the onside kick off out of bounds at the Eagle 49 yard line, Bonds completed a 50 yard pass to Tyndall who was tackled just shy of the end zone. Dylan Albert took a one yard handoff for the score and Tyndall’s kick sealed a 48-28 victory.
The Eagles hosted Oakbrook Prep for a makeup contest on Tuesday, Oct. 15.