DUBLIN- West Bladen failed to capitalize on a pair of second half scoring opportunities and suffered their first loss of the season 22-12 to Fairmont Friday night in Three Rivers Conference football action.
The Knights trailed 14-6 at halftime, but on their first play of the second half, senior Dayvon Swindell flew around right end and dashed 68 yards for a touchdown. The conversion failed, and the Knights trailed 14-12 with 11:47 left in the third period.
Knight freshman Kendall Johnson sacked the Fairmont quarterback, and West Bladen regained possession at the Tornado 49 yardline. The Knights marched to the Fairmont 15 yardline before being stopped a yard short on fourth down.
Two plays later Johnson pounced on a Tornado fumble at the Fairmont 15 yardline, but once again the Knights came up a yard short at the 6 yardline on fourth down.
Fairmont answered with a 94-yard touchdown drive. Malik Arnette capped the 8-play march with a 9-yard touchdown run then tacked on his second 2-point conversion run of the game for a 22-12 Tornado lead with 11:53 on the clock.
Neither team mounted another threat until the Knights moved 42 yards in the closing seconds. Senior B. J. Drake bolted 13 yards, sophmore quarterback Tyre Boykin scampered 13 yards and Swindell picked up 10 more yards. However the clock ran out with West Bladen on the Fairmont 14 yardline.
“We played hard, but just came up short,” said Knight Coach Kris Williams. “I am proud of the effort. I think the short week and bad weather Wednesday hurt us a little, but they had a short week, too.”
Fairmont drove 64 yards in 6 plays on their first possession. Junior Jordan Waters made a leaping catch in the end zone of a 38-yard touchdown pass from senior Derrick Arnette for a 6-0 lead.
The Tornadoes moved to the West Bladen 35 yardline on their next possession before junior Kerron Washington dropped Derrick Arnette for a 5-yard loss, and Drake threw a ball-carrier for a 14-yard loss.
After a 4-yard Tornado punt, the Knights covered 55 yards in 11 plays to tie the game. Boykin connected with Swindell on a fourth-down pass that gained 24 yards. Drake plowed through the line from a yard out for the touchdown. The extra point kick failed and the score was knotted 6-6.
Waters returned the ensuing kick-off 91 yards for an apparent touchdown but a personal foul penalty nullified the score. The Tornadoes then mounted an 89-yard drive that resulted in Derrick Arnette’s 11-yard touchdown run. Malik Arnette ran the conversion for a 14-6 lead.
A 29-yard run by Boykin keyed a 64-yard West Bladen drive late in the half, but the Knights were on the Fairmont 8 yardline when the half ended.
Swindell led the Knight runners with 100 yards and a touchdown on 8 carries. Drake carried 23 times for 98 yards and a touchdown. Boykin ran for 72 yards on 8 rushes and threw for 46 yards.
Johnson led the Knight defense with 8 tackles – 3 solo tackles and one sack. Washington finished with 6 tackles – 2 solo tackles and one sack. Senior Michael Hepburn totaled 6 tackles – 5 solo. Senior Jalen Drew had 5 tackles – one solo.
The Knights, now 2-1, travel to Red Springs Friday night.
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