Big Red pulls away to improve to 8-1
Published 5:54 pm Friday, November 8, 2024
Southampton High School senior running back Steven McClenny catches a 23-yard touchdown pass as Windsor High School senior cornerback Fleetwood Turner defends Friday, Nov. 1, in Courtland. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Windsor High School junior quarterback Jeremy King stiff arms Southampton High School senior defensive back Laurence Wallace on Friday, Nov. 1, as Wallace goes for the tackle. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Junior quarterback Zayden Pope, of Southampton High School, finds an open teammate Friday, Nov. 1, during Big Red’s 59-26 victory over visiting Windsor High School. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School junior wide receiver Miquel Bradshaw pushes for more yards as Windsor High School junior safety Jamonte Johnson looks to strip the ball. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School senior defensive back Zykiem Murrell advances after intercepting a Windsor High School pass Friday, Nov. 1, in Courtland. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Windsor High School junior running back Javion Collins follows his blockers Friday, Nov. 1, versus host Southampton High School. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School senior running back Javonte Lynch takes off for a 70-yard touchdown run Friday night, Nov. 1, against visiting Windsor High School. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Senior Fleetwood Turner, of Windsor High School, returns a kickoff Friday, Nov. 1, against host Southampton High School. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School senior wide receiver Xavier Tyler checks with the line judge prior to the beginning of a play Friday night, Nov. 1, in Courtland. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Windsor High School junior Gavin Marshall successfully kicks the ball for an extra point Friday night, Nov. 1, against host Southampton High School. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School senior defensive back Laurence Wallace gains yardage on an interception return against visiting Windsor High School on Friday, Nov. 1. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Windsor High School junior Hudson Williams is poised pre-snap against host Southampton High School on Friday evening, Nov. 1. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School junior linebacker Kelin Benjamin, No. 7, and his teammates look to bring down Windsor High School junior running back Javion Collins. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Windsor High School freshman Jake Nolan aims to successfully complete a two-point conversion Friday night, Nov. 1, against host Southampton High School. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Junior Jaquar White, of Southampton High School, finds some running room amid a kickoff return Friday, Nov. 1, against visiting Windsor High School. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
The Southampton High School marching band and dancers perform during halftime of the varsity football game Friday, Nov. 1, in Courtland. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Pictured is the crowd on hand Friday, Nov. 1, in Courtland, supporting the Southampton High School varsity football team as it improved to 8-1 on the season. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Theodore Haynes strikes a pose while serving as the mascot of the Southampton High School Indians during the varsity football game Friday night, Nov. 1, in Courtland. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The varsity football teams of Southampton High School and Windsor High School battled back and forth in a tight contest early between division foes Friday, Nov. 1, before the Indians pulled away for a 59-26 home win.
“We were pleased with the scoreboard, but not as pleased with our defensive execution,” Indians Head Coach Travis Parker said.
Both teams scored touchdowns within the first few minutes of the game, and Southampton was able to open up an early lead.
Big Red junior quarterback Zayden Pope connected with senior wide receiver Zykiem Murrell on a 41-yard touchdown pass to help put Southampton up 21-7 only three minutes and 20 seconds into the game.
But then Windsor was able to march down the field on the strength of a potent run game led by junior quarterback Jeremy King and junior running back Javion Collins. The seven-minute, 10-second drive was capped by a short touchdown run from King to help make the score 21-14.
Then the Indians fumbled near the start of their ensuing drive, turning the ball over at the 50, and the Dukes drove back down the field, with King scoring on a one-yard run. A two-point conversion attempt failed, but the score was now 21-20.
“I think we had a solid plan prepared,” Windsor Head Coach Benjamin DuBois said, “and it sustained for a while, but defensively we missed a lot of opportunities to take control of the game. We were short handed on defense, so many of our players played the majority of the game, so I am glad we never gave up.”
Big Red began to pull away in the final eight minutes of the first half.
Southampton senior running back Javonte Lynch ran for a 70-yard touchdown to help open a 28-20 lead.
Then senior defensive back Laurence Wallace intercepted a Windsor pass, setting up a drive that resulted in a 23-yard touchdown pass from Pope to senior running back Steven McClenny. Pope ran for the two-point conversion to make the score 36-20 with 5:42 still left in the half.
Murrell came down with an interception later to help prevent the Dukes from responding before halftime.
Southampton outscored Windsor 23-6 in the second half.
“Even though we were not happy about turning the ball over once, offensively we were pretty satisfied with our performance,” Parker said in his appraisal of his team’s performance across all four quarters Friday. “Zayden Pope did a good job managing the offense and getting the ball to our key players to put points on the board. Javonte Lynch did his job rushing the ball into the end zone a number of times on the night. Steven McClenny, Zykiem Murrell, Xavier Tyler and Miquel Bradshaw continue to be our receiver threats, which makes things difficult for opposing teams to defend us.”
DuBois also highlighted his team’s standouts on the night, noting that King continued his great season, rushing for 164 yards and passing for 136 yards, with two touchdowns scored. Collins had 102 yards rushing and 46 yards passing, and senior wideout Fleetwood Turner finished with 155 yards receiving.
This game was the last on Windsor’s regular season schedule, as it finished with a 1-9 record overall.
Though playoff spots have been available sometimes to sub-.500 teams in smaller regions, Region 2A has 14 teams, and DuBois said he believes the door is closed to the postseason for the Dukes this year.
“But with minimal seniors graduating and so many returning, I feel the future is getting brighter,” he said.
With the victory Friday, Southampton extended its winning streak to six games and improved to 8-1 on the season.
Parker said Big Red is on pace to finish with the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in Region 2A.
“It all depends how the power points fall,” he stated. “Poquoson is slated to be the No. 1 seed in the region. We are battling with Bruton for the No. 2 seed.”
Southampton closes its regular season schedule Friday, Nov. 8, when it hosts “cross-town” rival Franklin High School (3-6) at 7 p.m.
