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War Eagles hold off scrappy Florence squad

By Paul Keane

The Wayne County News

An ugly win always trumps a pretty loss.

Such was the case for Wayne County's War Eagles during Friday night's Homecoming game as WCHS took a 21-15 win over the previously undefeated Eagles of Florence High School.

The win moved WCHS to 4-2 on the year and 2-0 in District 3-5A action. Florence fell to 5-1 and 1-1.

A wild first quarter belied what turned into a defensive struggle in the final three quarters of action.

The War Eagles blocked a punt on the opening drive, setting up a short field for the offense, which used a 21-yard pass from Carter Hankins to Jalen Jones for the score with 9:13 remaining in the opening period. Kyle Clark booted the extra point to make it 7-0.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Eagles returned it 90 yards for a score to make it 7-6 with 8:58 left in the first.

Wayne County answered with a quick drive that was capped off with a 10-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Boyd. The Clark kick made it 14-6.

Again, though, the Eagles returned the ensuing kickoff, this time for a 92-yard touchdown that made it 14-12.

Both teams battled through a scoreless second quarter before Florence took a 15-12 lead with 51 seconds left in the third quarter.

WCHS scored with 8:48 left in the game when Hankins hit Jones with a 41-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-20 play.

For a complete wrap-up of the game, statistics for both the game and the season and a preview of next week's Brookhaven contest, be sure and pick up a copy of the Thursday, Oct. 6 edition of The Wayne County News.

Jags fight hard but fall to Patriots

COLUMBUS — Marcus Davidson said he was extremely proud of the effort and a "never quit" attitude displayed by his Wayne Academy Jaguars in a 39-7 loss to Heritage Academy Friday night.

The loss dropped the Jaguars to 3-3 on the year heading into the final road game of the 2022 regular season, a game against long-time rival Winston Academy on Friday.

Davidson said the score belied the effort his team displayed as the Jaguars kept things close nil some late scores by the Patriots allowed the home team to secure the win.

Heritage kicked a pair of field goals and scored on a 24-yard run in the first quarter to take a 13-0 lead. The Patriots then added a 54-yard touchdown run to take a 19-0 lead into the halftime locker room.

Wayne Academy got on the board first in the second half, using a 13-yard pass from Johnathan Nicholson to Davin Lowery. The Colton Stringer booted the extra point to make it 19-7 with 7:39 left in the third quarter.

The Patriots added touchdowns on a 1-yard run with 3:39 left and a 15-yard pass with 2:31 left to open up a 33-7 lead.

In the fourth quarter, with 8:07 remaining, a 1-yard pass for a Patriots' score set the final margin.

For a complete wrap-up of the game, statistics for both the game and the season and a preview of next week's Winston contest, be sure and pick up a copy of the Thursday, Oct. 6 edition of The Wayne County News.