With three big wins in a row, Winston Academy was put to the test last week.
WA followed up a tough loss to a vastly improved Heritage Academy team by knocking off East Rankin, taking down a Class 5A contender in Lamar and dispatching of Carroll Academy. The true measure of the team would come last Friday night, however, as the Patriots traveled to Tri-County to take on the district rival and defending Class 4A state champion.
The first half began hotly contested, but mistakes would mount and the Rebels took advantage. The end result was a runaway from the home team in a 47-13 victory for Tri-County.
“They had a good plan for stopping the veer and we had trouble protecting long enough to throw the football,” coach Pat Byrd said. “We wound up getting four turnovers on defense, but we just couldn’t make it happen. You make mistakes against someone like that, they’ll make you pay for it. Tough place to play.”
After being tied in the first half, WA was down 14-7 with 2 minutes left in the second quarter when the Pats got a turnover but they couldn’t move the football. From there, Tri-County would pounce as they expanded that lead and never looked back.
It was tough for the WA offense all night as the rushing attack had just 20 yards on 30 carries. Quarterback Holder Tidwell had a 20-yard rush in the game and still managed to lose nine yards overall on 10 carries thanks to sacks in the game.
Jackson Hudson had 24 yards on nine carries and a touchdown and Beau Boatner nine carries for just 12 yards and a score. Tidwell was also 7-of-14 passing for 56 yards and two interceptions while Ky Kirk had four of those receptions for 44 yards.
Boatner had 12 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss on defense and Wyatt Moody and Judson Joiner finished with 11 tackles each. Eli Goforth had the team’s only sack with Tidwell grabbing an interception and Reed Yates and Joiner got fumble recoveries in the win.
The loss dropped the Pats to 3-2 on the year and 0-1 in Class 4A, District 2 play. Next up, WA hosts Clinton Christian on Friday night and the Warriors are in rebuilding mode at 1-4 this year.
“They’ve been a spread team and all of a sudden, they’re running the Wing T,” Byrd said. “They lost their coach and they’ve lost some players. It’s not about who you’re playing, it’s about doing what you do the best you can.”
Even with the loss, everything is ahead of the Pats moving forward.
WA has some favorable opportunities ahead, but Byrd wants his team to focus on a week at a time. He certainly doesn’t want his team dwelling on the tough week that was in Flora.
“You’ve got to flush it. A game like that if you aren’t careful, it’ll stretch the next few weeks,” Byrd said. “We try to win this week, the next week and keep winning each week. We’ve got to solidify a little bit up front. We’re going to put kids in different places and find the right five and put them in the right spot.”
