At first, things seemed to be headed in the direction of West Jones' Friday night opener a year ago. It's 10-6 loss to Wayne County painted a not so pleasant picture of the Mustangs football team and depicted a long season ahead of things didn't change.
On Friday night, a bad West Jones snap led to a George County safety early. The Rebels capitalized with a rushing touchdown on the ensuing position. It got worst for West Jones moments later when junior quarterback Alan Follis tossed near pick-six. George County toted the ball in for six from five yards out on the next play to build a 16-0 lead in the second quarter.
Then came the turnaround.
West Jones responded with 24 unanswered points, 17 of which came in the second half, to knock off 6A George County 24-16 in Soso.
“Those were bad decisions,” said West Jones head coach Scott Pierson when asked about his team’s mistakes early in the game. “That bad snap shouldn’t have happened. And the decision Follis made on the interception shouldn’t have happened. It wasn’t a bad throw; it was a bad decision. Those are the things you have to clean up as the year goes on.”
Pierson said the comeback came from not giving up when down, and from all around better play in the second half.
"I was proud that we were down 16 points and didn't roll over," said Pierson. "At halftime, we weren't screaming and yelling. We were discussing how to fix us — not worrying about [George County], but about how to fix us. We came out and just honestly played better. It was no great secret; we just played better."
Behind 16-7, junior running back Kentrel Pruitt pulled West Jones within two points of George County’s lead with his 31-yard touchdown run on the Mustangs’ first possession of the second half. Follis set up the touchdown run with a 17-yard rush that ended up in Rebels’ territory.
West Jones quarterback Alan Follis makes a throw downfield against George County.
Sophomore Benjamin Cooper sailed a 28-yard kick through the uprights late in the third quarter to give the Mustangs its first lead, 17-16.
In the post Byron Young, Jon Micah Coleman, and Damion Cunningham era, the West Jones defensive line showed flashes of promise on the year. A big sack of George County's quarterback Jonathan Harvard by sophomore Derick Breland forced the Rebels to punt early in the final quarter. Follis capitalized on the good field position, racing 43 yards downfield for the final score Friday night.
Momentum Change:
Kentrel Pruitt’s 31-yard touchdown run on West Jones first possession of the second half changed the environment at Mustangs Field. The score didn’t put West Jones in the lead at the time, but it did swing momentum in favor of the home team.
Player of the Game:
Alan Follis finished with two scores, a 28-yard TD pass to Micheal Neal and a 43-yard TD run. He finished with 48 yards rushing and 147 yards passing.
Quote of the Night:
“Offensively, I think we’re better than we showed tonight. The slippery ball, the wet field, and the first time we’ve played four quarters affected us. I think we’ll get even better as the year goes on.” - Scott Pierson, West Jones head coach.
Notes:
- The head referee Friday night suffered what looked to be a heart attack following Follis' 43-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. He was responsive according to reports before the ambulance left the school's campus route to the hospital
- Kentral Pruitt led with 53 yards rushing on 10 carries and a TD. Tajrick Randolph led in receiving yards with 51 on five catches.
- Visit our photo gallery page at Sports601.com for photos of the game.
