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Ken Armstrong photos
DUBLIN – Senior Dayvon Swindell scored five touchdowns, and senior B. J. Drake ran for 218 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead West Bladen to a 49-28 Three Rivers Conference football Homecoming victory over West Columbus Friday night.
The Knights covered 55 yards in only 2 plays to take a 7-0 lead only 27 seconds into the game. Drake dashed 39 yards on the first play, before Swindell bolted 16 yards for the touchdown. Jose Garcia booted the extra point.
On their next possession, West Bladen drove 86 yards in 7 plays. Drake picked up 11 yards, before Swindell popped free for a 24-yard run. Sophmore quarterback Tyre Boykin capped the drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Swindell. Garcia converted the kick for a 14-0 lead.
West Columbus answered with a touchdown drive of their own then tacked on a 2-point conversion to pull within 14-8 at the 2:16 mark.
Senior Jimmy Williams returned the Viking kick-off 30 yards to the West Columbus 35 yardline. Drake dashed 17 yards for a first down, before Swindell charged through the line for an 18-yard touchdown run. Garcia kicked his third extra point for a 21-8 lead with 1:55 left in the quarter.
Neither team scored in the second quarter, and the score remained 21-8 at halftime.
The Knights opened the second half with a 78-yard touchdown march. Drake galloped 60 yards to the Viking 18 yardline, however 3 plays lost 4 yards.
West Columbus then jumped offside 3 consecutive times on fourth down plays to give the Knights a first down. Drake scooted 7 yards for the touchdown, and Boykin kept the ball on a 2-point conversion run that stretched the West Bladen lead to 29-8 with 5:18 remaining in the third quarter.
A Swindell pass interception stopped a Viking threat at the West Bladen 28 yardline, and the Knights responded with a 72-yard touchdown drive. Michael Hepburn darted 7 yards, and junior Kerron Washington gained 16 yards.
Jalen Drew bulled his way for 9 yards, before Swindell sprinted 36 yards for his fourth touchdown and a 35-8 Knight lead with 10:58 left in the game.
Following a Viking punt, Drake flew through the line and sped 74 yards for another Knight touchdown. Freshman Joseph Masaid nailed the extra point kick for a 42-8 West Bladen lead with 7:35 on the clock.
West Bladen Coach Kris Williams began clearing his bench, and the Vikings capitalized for a pair of touchdowns to close the gap to 42-22 with 2:40 left.
After an apparent 61-yard touchdown run by Washington was nullified by a penalty and with the Knights facing a third and long play, the Vikings took a time-out. Boykin then hurled a 60-yard touchdown pass to Swindell to seal the verdict. Masaid booted the extra point for a 49-22 lead.
West Columbus scored a late touchdown in the final minute, but Washington intercepted the conversion pass to keep the final margin at 49-28.
“It was a good win,” said Coach Williams. “We gave up a couple of touchdowns late when we were subbing kids that don’t get to play a lot and West Columbus was still playing as hard as they could with starters. But we had more points and that’s what matters. Proud of the kids and it was a great way to end Homecoming week with a win.”
Swindell ran for 91 yards and 3 touchdowns and caught 2 passes for 91 yards and 2 more touchdowns. Boykin completed 3 of 4 passes for 93 yards.
West Bladen, now 2-4 in league play and 4-4 overall, will travel to St. Pauls Friday night.
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