After pulling out a last-minute victory at Union Monday night, West Bladen’s Knights will travel to Teachey tonight to battle the defending State Class 1-AA champion Wallace-Rose Hill Bulldogs.
“The forecast for Friday and the weekend is terrible,” said Knight Coach Russell Dove. “We decided that conditions might be better Thursday night than they would be Monday if it rains all weekend. Not many fields can hold as much water as is expected this weekend.”
Preparation for the Bulldogs might not be as difficult as for some teams. “We saw the 53 defense Monday at Union,” continued Coach Dove. “Wallace runs most of the same offensive stuff that we do, so our defense has been seeing it all year. Of course they are fast and good and have a good coaching staff. ”
The Bulldogs have outscored opponents by a 43-13 margin and feature a fleet of speedy backs led by senior Johnnie Glaspie who has rushed for 395 yards and 8 touchdowns. Glaspie also has an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Senior Keyshawn Canady has gained 371 yards rushing and scored 7 rushing touchdowns. Canady has returned 2 punts for touchdowns. Senior Jhonta Wilson has run for 139 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Junior quarterback Aliza Carter has completed 68 per cent of his passes for 205 yards and 3 touchdowns.
A covey of linebackers lead the Wallace defense led by sophomore Javonte Williams (39 tackles), sophomore Desmond Newkirk (38 tackles), senior Josiah Bryant (35 tackles), sophomore Quavion Basyden (34 tackles), and senior Tremaine Washington (30 tackles).
Injuries have plagued the Knights this season, but they came through Monday’s game with no further injuries and are celebrating the return of senior fullback Malique McDowell, senior Da’quan Lennon and senior linebacker Idris Najeeullah.
The Knights are still without tight end Hunter Prevatte, split end Jonathan Ashworth and sophomore safety Raekwon Shaw.
McDowell returned to the line-up Monday at Union and rushed for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the game-winner with 37 seconds left. McDowell leads the Knight ground game with 498 yards rushing in 4 games.
Sophomore B. J. Drake gained 109 yards rushing at Union and scored on a 52-yard run. Drake now has 351 yards rushing for the season. Junior James Moore has run for 330 yards.
Senior Stefan McDonald has completed 57 per cent of his passes and has thrown for 181 yards and a touchdown.
Junior linebacker Hunter Pait leads the Knight defense, along with Najeeullah, fellow seniors Traquan Horne and Matthew Sturgill and juniors Ricky McLaurin, Traquan Smith and Luis Ramirez.
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