Black Knight fight

Black Knight fight

WMCS wins thriller at home

Sports Editor

Though West Memphis Christian’s season is just three weeks old, a lot of people around the team felt like last Friday night’s home date with DeSoto School was a must-win.

The Black Knights charged out of the gates to a 13-0 first-quarter lead, only to find themselves tied with the Thunderbirds 13-all at the halftime break.

West Memphis Christian outscored DeSoto 8-6 in the second half, to clinch a rousing 21-19 win against their district rivals to get to 1-2 overall.

The game was in question until DeSoto’s final possession when West Memphis Christian came up with a fourth-and-six stop.

“We came out in the second half and really played,” said West Memphis Christian head coach Darrow Anderson.

“We didn’t get our heads down, and I thought we really responded.”

The Black Knights looked as though they’d have an early night just after kickoff. West Memphis Christian slapped together a pair of long drives that culminated in touchdowns for 13-0 lead.

It looked as though the defense was going to keep the run going in the second quarter, but the Black Knight defense was whistled for a horse collar penalty following a fourthdown stop, giving the Thunderbirds a fresh set of downs.

That was the break that DeSoto needed to tie the game before halftime.

West Memphis Christian scored first in the third quarter, and the two-point conversion gave them a 21-13 lead.

DeSoto scored its final touchdown in the fourth, but the Black Knights stopped them on their conversion to keep the lead.

“Our offensive and defensive lines were the difference the other night,” says Anderson. “They came at us with 11 in the box and just said they going to run it right at us. I mean, they got some yards, but we did a good job for the most part.”

That offensive line also allowed West Memphis Christian to rush for 293 yards as a team, led by senior Jameson Smith’s 126 yards and two touchdowns. Smith also hauled in West Memphis Christian’s only pass for a 31-yard gain.

Matthew Baker added 76 yards and Thomas Warren checked in with 53 yards on the ground as well.

Sophomore Parker Benson started at quarterback for West Memphis Christian and he finished 1 of 4 passing and produced 42 yards on the ground himself.

Senior Hunter Weathers had a tackle for loss and five stops in all, four of which were quarterback sacks, while juniors Mason Nix and Hayden Ellis posted eight tackles apiece defensively. Warren had seven stops.

West Memphis Christian will hit the road to play Oak Hill Academy on Friday night in what will be a crucial game for the postseason hopes for the Black Knights.

They will return home on Friday, September 16 to host Kirk Academy at 7 p.m.

By Chuck Livingston