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DUBLIN – Senior B. J. Drake rushed for 159 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead West Bladen to a 48-8 Three Rivers Conference football victory over East Columbus.

The Knight offense scored on its first 7 possessions of the game and so dominated the game that a running clock was used for the final 16 minutes due to the 40-point lead mercy rule.

“B. J. set the tone for us early on offense,” said Knight Coach Kris Williams. “Basically everybody on offense contributed tonight. Our defense played well after their first couple of possessions.”

A squib kick-off by the Gators to start the game set the Knights up at the East Columbus 49 yardline. Drake carried the ball on three consecutive plays – the last one a 15-yard touchdown run to put West Bladen up 6-0 with 10:43 left in the quarter.

On the next Knight possession, sophmore quarterback Tyre Boykin connected with senior Dayvon Swindell on a 72-yard touchdown pass. A 2-point conversion attempt failed and West led 12-0 with 6:18 on the first period clock.

The Gators responded with a 65-yard touchdown drive that was kept alive by a pair of fourth-down conversions. East Columbus tacked on a 2-point conversion pass to trim the margin to 12-8 early in the second quarter.

West Bladen answered with a 60-yard scoring drive. Swindell popped loose for a 30-yard run to start the drive then picked up 15 more yards on another carry. Drake powered into the end zone from a yard out for the touchdown. Boykin kept the ball and scooted into the end zone for the 2-point conversion and a 20-8 Knight lead with 9:25 remaining in the half.

Swindell stopped the next East Columbus drive by intercepting a pass at the Knight six yardline. On the next play Drake circled right end for 34 yards. Two plays later Boykin fired a 42-yard pass to Swindell that moved the Knights to the Gator 14 yardline.

Boykin then flipped a pass to Kerron Washington in the flat and Washington darted 11 yards to the 2 yardline. Drake bulled into the end zone from there on the final play of the half to pad the Knight lead to 26-8.

Three plays into the second half, West Bladen’s Jvahn Thomas pounced on a Gator fumble at the East Columbus 29 yardline. Drake galloped 28 yards to the one yardline, and Boykin kept the ball and scored the touchdown on the next play for a 34-8 lead with 9:50 on the clock.

Two plays later the Gators coughed the ball up again and Bryan Haro recovered for the Knights at the Gator 38 yardline. On the next play Drake bolted 38 yards for his fourth touchdown of the game. West Bladen led 40-8 at the 8:51 mark of the quarter.

A 69-yard kick-off return put the Gators at the Knight 20 yardline, but the West Bladen defense held and the Knights took over on downs at the 28.

The West Bladen offense mounted a 72-yard touchdown drive highlighted by 16-yard runs by Swindell and Washington and a 15-yard gain by Jalen Drew. Drew rammed through the line from 5 yards out for the touchdown, and Masai Carroway ran the 2-point conversion to boost the lead to 48-8 and start the running clock with 4:17 left in the third quarter.

Boykin completed all 4 of his passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. Swindell rushed for 62 yards on 3 carries and caught 2 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. Washington rushed for 34 yards and had an 11-yard pass reception. Drew gained 46 yards on 7 carries.

The Knights held a 417-167 edge in total offense and finished with 305 yards rushing.

Tra’shawn Ballard led the Knight defense with 8 tackles – 4 solo. Drew finished with 6 tackles – 4 solo. Jason Moore was credited with 6 tackles – one solo. Drake and freshman Kendall Johnson had 5 tackles each and both of them had 3 solo tackles. Haro, P. J. Weaks and Nelson Drake had 4 tackles each.

West Bladen improved to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The Knights travel to South Robeson Friday.