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Jaguars top Columbia to set up showdown

By Matt Hall

The Wayne County News

Wayne Academy scored early and often, then scored twice in the second half to come away with a 37-12 win over Columbia Academy at home Friday night.

Not only did the outcome make for a happy Homecoming for W.A., but it sets up a big District 4-4A showdown on Oct. 21 against Brookhaven Academy. A win over the Cougars would give the Jaguars no worse than a tie for the district title.

The Jaguars got on the board nearly immediately when Daxton West returned the opening kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown. The Colton Stringer extra point made it 7-0 with 11:45 left in the first quarter.

With 5:15 left in the opening period, quarterback Jonathan Nicholson scored on a 7-yard run, with the Stringer extra point making it a 14-0 contest.

Stringer would score again — this time on a 55-yard interception return — and then boot the extra point to give the home team a 21-0 advantage by the end of the first quarter.

The Cougars scored on an 8-yard run with 9:52 left to trim the deficit down to 21-6, but the Jaguars answered when Stringer connected on a 24-yard field goal with 6:54 remaining to make it 24-6.

Columbia would score on an 88-yard pass play to make it a 24-12 ballgame at the intermission.

Wayne used a little chicanery in the third quarter as Davin Lowery hit Drake Frasier with a 60-yard pass on a fake punt to open up a 30-12 lead with a minute left in the period.

Finally, with 5:58 remaining in the game, Nicholson scored on a 7-yard run, with the Stringer extra point closing out the scoring.

For a complete wrap-up of the game — along with both game and season statistics — be sure and pick up a copy of the Oct. 21 edition of The Wayne County News.

War Eagles still perfect in district after win

By Paul Keane

The Wayne County News

Wayne County High School overcame a struggle in the first 36 minutes, scoring three times in the final 12:28 to take a 33-12 home win over Natchez.

The victory moved the War Eagles to 6-2 on the year and 4-0 in District 3-5A action.

The Bulldogs got on the board when, using a 74-yard pass play that made it 6-0 Natchez with 6:10 left in the opening stanza.

WCHS answered at the 7:14 mark of the second quarter when Aikerien Hopkins scored on a 6-yard run. Kyle Clark booted the extra point to make it 7-6.

Clark would connected on a 21-yard field with 30 seconds left in the half to give the War Eagles a 10-6 halftime lead.

Natchez regained the lead with 8:34 left in the third quarter, returning a blocked punt 10 yards to take a 12-10 advantage.

The War Eagles answered when Hezekiah West scored on a 21-yard run, and the Hopkins conversion made it 18-12 with 1:28 remaining.

In the fourth quarter, Kelvin Walley scored on a 5-yard run. Carter Hankins hit Jalen Jones with the conversion to open up a 26-12 lead with 5:02 left.

On the ensuing series, the defense recovered a fumble and the offense turned the miscue into a 3-yard scoring run by Omar Boykin, Jr., with 2:10 remaining. Clark booted the extra point to set the final margin.

Things got testy at the end of the game as the Bulldogs were called for three straight unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and plenty of words were exchanged both with officials and WCHS players. As the War Eagles were heading to the locker room, Natchez players came over and confronted both players, coaches and even fans, with some parents also getting involved.

Cooler heads prevailed and the teams were separated.

For a complete wrap-up of the game — along with both game and season statistics — be sure and pick up a copy of the Oct. 21 edition of The Wayne County News.