Walnut Ridge 26 Africentric 6

 

Using online rosters from Maxpreps and Hudl.

Saturday afternoon took me to Walnut Ridge High School to watch the Scots host the Nubians from Africentric Early College. Walnut Ridge came in 5-3 overall, while Africentric came in 7-1.

The Nubians started with July the Fourth-type fireworks on the opening kickoff, with Caleb Anthony sprinting for an 83-yard touchdown to make this a 6-0 game. A bad snap caused the point after try to fail.

The Scots would get a nice 9-yard pass from Marquis Lucas to Lee'Sean Saunders to move the chains. The 13-play, 52-yard drive ended when the Scots failed on a fourth-and-five attempt, with Lucas being stuffed on the Nubians' 7-yard line, with 2:10 left in the fast-moving opening quarter.

The Nubians got a 27-yard catch from Anthony on a nicely thrown ball from Josh Smith, with 11:10 left in the half. The drive came to a hard close a short time later. The Scots defense would stand tall all game long, shutting down a solid Nubians offense all game.

Lucas would break two soft tackles on his way to an 11-yard run; if not for a nice stop from Will Carlisle Jr., the play would have gone for a score. Chrishawn Harper busted off an 11-yard run with 5:35 left in the half. The 8-play, 65-yard drive came to a close with Lucas jumping over a tackler to score from 15 yards out. Lucas was stopped short of the goal line on the two-point conversion try, keeping the game locked at six, with 2:15 left on the clock.

The Scots defense ended the half with a bang. First, Jacear West-Rogers dropped Larell Hairston for a loss of four, then #7 (not on the roster) put Aaron Shumate II in the dirt for a loss of four.

Abron Davis picked up 14 yards on fourth and five to move the chains for the Scots, with 5:22 left in the third. Lucas broke two tackles on his way to a 14-yard run, with 4:55 left on the clock. The drive came to a close on a fourth and five from the five when Lucas crossed the goal line to make this a 12-6 game, with 1:11 left in the quarter. The drive went for 13 plays, totaling 68 yards.

With 0:59 left on the clock, the ball was put on the ground by the Nubians, and when the pile was clear, the refs signaled Walnut Ridge ball.

On the coolest play of the day, also the weirdest, Lucas had his passed tip; he caught the ball for the completion and then took it 13 yards to the Neuibans' 1-yard line, with 11:28 left in the game. The 3-play, 20-yard drive ended on a 1-yard run for the score by Lucas. Lucas hit Chrishawn Harper to complete the two-point conversion try, but Harper was stopped short, leaving this an 18-6 game, with 11:17 left in the contest.

On the ensuing kickoff, Jordan Simmons mishandled the ball, allowing #3 (not on the roster) to tackle him without any yards being gained. The Nubians had trouble on kickoff returns most of the day. Freshman Zyion Thornton would be picked off by the Scots' Harper with 9:38 left in the game.

Lucas found Kyshaun Davis for 24 yards to set up a first and goal on the ten, with 7:24 left. Daiquan Galloway ended the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run followed by a two-point conversion run from Lucas to make this a 26-6 game, with 7:10 showing on the clock.

Rogers sacked Thornton with 0:45 left to force a turnover on downs. From there the Scots ran the clock down to post the 20-point win.

My Stats

Nubians

30 plays

90 yards

Passing, 3-7 1 Int

Scots

46 plays

248 yards

Passing, 7-9

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