West Jones is noted for playing great defense year-in and year-out. When the Mustangs field a championship caliber team, their offense is usually pretty potent in the passing game plus they always seem to have a great kicking game. Friday night all three were playing at that championship level. That has been the formula for winning their opening four games of this 2019 season. On Friday night, the Mustangs proved a point in all three phases of the game in handing the Wayne County War Eagles a sound 31-10 defeat.
The War Eagles’ (2-2) only bright spot came on their opening offensive possession of the game when running back Kelnevious Walley broke free on a 61-yard scamper to put the War Eagles up 7-0 at the 8:55 mark. Walley would go down with an injury on the next WC offensive series and would be sidelined for the remainder of the contest.
Both teams traded punts for the reminder of the first period until the Mustangs put together a scoring drive. West Jones finally dented the scoreboard with 5.5 seconds to play in the opening period when Benjamin Cooper drilled a 36-yard field goal.
Mustangs quarterback Austin Follis then drove the Mustangs on two second-period scoring drives as he hit Tajrick Randolph on a 33-yard score to give the Mustangs the lead for good at 10-7 with 9:38 to play in the half. Follis followed that up by hitting lightning quick 5-foot-5 Michael Neal for 22 yards and a score at the 5:33 mark of the half. Trailing by ten points, Wayne County put together a drive that was halted at the Mustangs’ 13-yard-line. Nathan Busby was then called upon and responded with a 30-yard field goal with 2:21 to end the War Eagles’ scoring for the night.
The Mustangs defense limited the War Eagles to three first downs in the opening half in taking the 17-10 lead into the locker room.
The Mustangs broke open the game in the final period when Kentrel Pruitt broke loose on a 56-yard run at the 9:35 mark. Mustangs defensive player Cedric Bender forced a War Eagle fumble on the next series and recovered the loose ball himself, setting up the final points of the night. A 21-yard one-handed catch by Randolph from Follis closed out the scoring on the night.
The Mustangs defense held Wayne County to only 185 yards of offense on the night and seven first downs.
Play of the Game:
Mustangs quarterback Austin Follis hit Michael Neal on a 22-yard TD pass to put West up 17-7 midway of the second period.
Player(s) of the Game:
Follis was 14-of-20 for 215 yards and three TD passes. Neal had four caches for 82 yards. Tajrick Randolph came up with four catches for 63 yards and two scores. Kentrel Pruitt rushed for 100 yards on a dozen carries and scored once.
Notes:
Next week both teams are open. In two weeks, West entertains Brookhaven while Wayne County hosts Hattiesburg.
West Jones head coach Scott Pierson recorded his 215th win as head coach.
It was the Mustangs’ first win over the War Eagles since the 2010 season.
