Knights pick up shutout victory
By By Austin Bishop / EMG regional sports director
Sept. 18, 2004
CHOCTAW West Lauderdale used a stifling defense, big kick return and excellent field position to rip off 25 second half points on the way to a 31-0 Division 5-3A win over homestanding Choctaw Central on Friday night.
The visiting Knights, 3-1 overall and 1-0 in league play, went into halftime with a 6-0 lead over the winless Warriors.
But the first play of the second half seemed to open things up for the Knights.
Sophomore kick returner Russell Williamson picked up a bouncing, second-half kickoff at West Lauderdale's 15-yard line, started up the middle and bounced outside to race 85 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown with 11:41 to play in the third quarter. Cory Williams ran in the two-point conversion to put West Lauderdale up 14-0.
That, they did.
After taking the two-touchdown lead, the remaining 17 points of the game came when the WL defense held, then the special teams put the Knights in incredible scoring position.
Late in the third quarter, a 41-yard Michael Pogue punt pinned Choctaw Central in at its own 8-yard line. Four plays later, a heavy rush led to a 10-yard punt, giving West Lauderdale the ball on the Warriors' 15-yard line.
Three snaps later, Austin Davis hit Williams with a 12-yard scoring pass. Michael Pogue's kick put the winners up 21-0 with 1:38 to play in the third quarter.
West Lauderdale took over at the Choctaw Central 28-yard line after a punt and nice return on its next possession. The Knights used eight plays to cover the distance, with Dameon Baylor scoring on a fourth-and-goal run up the middle from the 1-yard line. Pogue's kick made it 28-0 with 8:42 to go in the game.
The final points of the night were set up on a nice punt return by Williams, giving West Lauderdale the ball at the Choctaw Central 14. Five plays later, Pogue connected on a 29-yard field goal.
The West Lauderdale defense gave up six first downs in the first half, but limited the Warriors to just one in the second half, with that coming on Choctaw Central's last possession of the game.
West Lauderdale had five touchdowns called back by penalties in the game, including three when the game was still scoreless in the first half.
The Knights put together its best offensive drive of the game on their last possession of the second half. West Lauderdale marched 59 yards on 10 plays with Davis passing to Williams for an 8-yard score with 35 seconds left in the half. The extra point kick failed, leaving the Knights with a 6-0 lead.
Baylor rushed for 92 yards on 22 carries for WL, and the Knights limited Choctaw Central to just 104 yards of total offense.
West Lauderdale visits Newton County for a key division showdown next week, while Choctaw Central hosts Morton in a Division 5-3A matchup.
