Wayne County shuts down Northeast Trojans

By By Robby Atkinson/staff writer
October 11, 2003
WAYNESBORO The Wayne County War Eagles remained the most dominant team in Class 4A by taking a convincing 40-0 shutout win over the visiting Northeast Lauderdale Trojans at War Eagle Stadium on Friday night.
The win for the War Eagles is the fifth shutout of the season and moves Wayne County to a perfect 6-0 and 3-0 in Division 5-4A.
Northeast Lauderdale opened the game on offense and three plays into the game the War Eagles came up with the first turnover. Mario Odom came up with the interception for the War Eagles and the offense took control at the Trojan 45-yard line with 10:21 left in the first.
Northeast Lauderdale stood strong on defense and forced a very quick three-and-out. Eric Boyd led the defensive attack for the Trojans with a sack to force the punt. The second turnover of the game occurred after the impressive stand on defense for Northeast Lauderdale.
The ball was fumbled by the Trojans on the punt and Steve Gandy came up with the loose ball to put the War Eagle offense back on the field. The first score of the night for Wayne County was set up on a huge 28-yard pass from
J.J. Taylor to Latrell Gray and one play later the War Eagles cracked the scoreboard.
Michael McLaughlin did the honors from one yard out and put Wayne County on top 7-0 with 7:40 left in the first. The second score of the night for the War Eagles came with 1:01 remaining in the first and extended the Wayne County lead to 14-0. McLaughlin found the endzone for the second time in the quarter on another short one-yard run.
Wayne County added two final scores before the half-time break. The first score came on a one-yard rush by Mario Davis off a fumbled ball in the endzone by William Brown to give the War Eagles a 20-0 lead after a failed extra point. The final points came off the foot of Breck Mills from 32 yards and make the score 23-0 at the half.
Wayne County picked up right where it left off to open the second half. Jerrod Sims collected his first score of the night on a 21-yard touchdown run that took only four plays from scrimmage. After the long run by Sims, the War Eagles found the endzone for the final time on the evening. The score was setup on a 20-yard pass from Taylor to Jacquez McBride and two plays later Brown score on a six-yard run to give Wayne County a comfortable 37-0 lead.
Mills tacked on three more points on a 22-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining in the third to propel the War Eagles to victory.
Wayne County returns to action on the road next week against Mendenhall, while Northeast Lauderdale will be playing host to Neshoba Central.