CERRO GORDO – Junior Amajae Lowery scored 4 touchdowns as West Columbus rallied from a 30-12 deficit with 37 unanswered points and posted a 49-36 Three Rivers Conference football victory over West Bladen Friday night.
Lowery took over at quarterback for the Vikings midway the 2nd quarter and darted 6 yards for a touchdown on the first play after teammate Darius Marshall had pounced on a Knight fumble. The touchdown pulled West Columbus to within 22-12.
The Knights bounced back with a 63-yard drive in 13 plays. Sophomore Hunter Elks reeled off runs of 9, 10 and 5 yards, and junior Damarius Robinson added 3 carries for 14 yards before snaring a 10-yard touchdown pass from junior Devon Strange only 6 seconds before halftime. Sophmore Gary Parker charged into the end zone for the 2-point conversion that pushed the halftime lead to 30-12.
On their 2nd possession of the 2nd half, the Vikings covered 47 yards in 6 plays following a short Knight punt. Lowery scrambled for 8 and 12 yard gains then flipped a 14-yard pass to senior Brandis Kelly. Sophomore Cameron Eady dashed 5 yards for the touchdown, and Lowery ran the 2-point conversion that cut the lead to 30-20.
The Knights fumbled the kickoff and freshman Jaylen Bellamy recovered at the West Bladen 18 yardline. Junior Da’Norie Mack carried 4 yards for the touchdown, and Lowery added the 2-point conversion run that sliced the Knight lead to 30-28.
Lowery scooted 47 yards on a punt return to set up the go-ahead score. Mack picked up 11 yards, before Lowery bolted 7 yards for the touchdown then tossed a 2-point conversion pass to Kelly that vaulted the Vikings in front 36-30 five seconds into the final period.
Following a fumble recovery by sophomore Raymond Gillie, the Knights moved to the Viking 38 but were stopped on downs. West Columbus answered with a 62-yard drive in 5 plays. Marshall picked up 24 yards on 3 carries, and Lowery scampered 18 yards then raced 25 yards for a touchdown with 3:02 on the clock that padded the Viking lead to 42-30.
Parker broke loose around the left side on the kickoff return and galloped 63 yards to the West Columbus 18 yardline. However Lowery intercepted a pass and sped 92 yards for the final Viking touchdown. Austin Booth kicked the point for a 49-30 lead.
A short kickoff gave the Knights the ball at the West Columbus 48. Two plays later Strange threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to senior ShyRon Adams that trimmed the final margin to 49-36.
Lowery rushed 9 times for 75 yards and 3 touchdowns, completed a pass for 14 yards, returned a punt 47 yards to set up a score and scored on the 92-yard interception return. Mack rushed 16 times for 63 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kelly caught 3 passes for 56 yards, and Marshall ran for 37 yards.
Parker carried 14 times for 48 yards and a touchdown for the Knights, and Robinson rushed 13 times for 48 yards. Elks gained 31 yards on 8 plays. Adams caught 4 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Strange completed 5 of 17 passes for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns. Robinson had a 10-yard touchdown reception.
The Knights scored first when Robinson scooped up a Viking fumble and sprinted 52 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead midway the 1st period.
West Columbus answered with a 61-yard drive in 8 plays that was aided by a pass interference penalty. Quarterback Nathan Hunt connected with Kelly on passes of 19 and 23 yards, before Mack dove into the end zone from a yard out to tie the game 6-6.
Freshman Jahmar Richardson recovered a Viking fumble to ignite a 54-yard Knight scoring drive. Adams hauled in a Strange pass for a 37-yard gain, Robinson pounded the middle for 9 yards, and Parker spun out of a tackle to score on a 6-yard run. Adams ran for the 2-point conversion and a 14-6 Knight lead.
Junior Javonta Matthews picked off a Viking pass and flew 67 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. Parker powered into the end zone for the conversion and a 22-6 Knight lead 7:33 before halftime.
An Adams pass interception at the Knight one yardline ended a Viking threat, but the Knights fumbled the ball back on the next play to set up the first Lowery touchdown.
“The defense kept us in the game,” said Knight Coach Jon Sherman. “The offense just can’t seem to be consistent. It seems like there is always a mistake – a penalty, a missed assignment. We have got to get better on third down.”
West Bladen will have a short week as they travel to Whiteville Tuesday for a 7 p.m. make-up game.
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