Saints Prove to be Too Much for Wayne

Saints Prove to be Too Much for Wayne

By:  Melissa Grace

The annual breast cancer awareness game adds a whole new level of significance to what is already an important event. However, the recognition of those who have or have had cancer can put sports and life in perspective rather quickly. With that being said there was an important district matchup at N.O. Tyrone Memorial Field Friday night. It pitted the highest scoring offense in the conference against the defense with the lowest number of points allowed. Prentiss Christian opened the game kicking off to Wayne Academy. Josh Daley’s kick went a little left and rolled out of bounds giving WA the ball on the 35 yard line to start the drive. The opening drive looked good for the Jags until the Saint defense put their foot down at the PCS 35 yard line and forced a WA punt. The punt went into the end zone giving the Saints control on the 20 yard line. Prentiss put together an 11 play scoring drive capped off by a 5 yard touchdown run by Austin Daughdrill. With 2:35 to go in the 1^st quarter, Daley added the extra point giving PCS a 7-0 lead. Daley kicked off for 38 yards and the returner was quickly bottled up on the 29 yard line. The Jags moved the ball to the PCS 31 yard line before Daughdrill came up with a big sack on 2^nd down moving WA back to the 45 yard line. After an incompletion, the Jags elected to punt the ball back to the Saints. The ball was downed on the 7 yard line as the 1^st quarter ended. Five plays later, Michael Goddard broke loose for a 61 yard run that was called back for holding placing the ball on the 9 yard line. Prentiss moved back out to the 20 yard line, but were forced to punt from there. Blake Greenlee’s punt flew 43 yards and was returned 12 yards to the WA 49 yard line. Four plays later, the Jags would find the end zone on a 4 yard quarterback run. The PAT was added tying the game at 7 with 7:14 left in the 2^nd quarter. The Jaguar kickoff was fielded by Daley at the 30 yard line and returned to the 46 yard line. Six plays later, Daughdrill hit pay dirt again as he scored on a 24 yard run. Daley again added the PAT putting Prentiss up 14-7 at the 4:05 mark in the 1^st half. Following the Saints kick and cover, the Jags started their next drive on the WA 35 yard line. Following an incompletion on 1^st down, Daughdrill hit the running back forcing a fumble that was scooped up by Greenlee and ran in for another Saints touchdown. Daley’s PAT missed its mark making the score 20-7 with less than 4 minutes on the clock. Daley’s kickoff sailed 42 yards and netted 30 yards following a 12 yard return by the Jaguars. After gaining 25 yards on the ground, the Jags made the mistake of throwing the ball deep. Daley was there with the coverage and intercepted the ball at the PCS 25 yard line. There was an illegal block on his return which brought the ball back to the 23 yard line of the Saints. The Saints tried the ground, but found no holes and elected to punt back to the Jaguars with 23 seconds on the clock. A good punt by Greenlee put WA in their own territory, but an unsportsmanlike penalty put the ball at the PCS 35 yard line. The Jags attempted a run to get closer to the end zone for the next play, but only gained 6 yards. The Saint defense jumped into prevent mode and as the horn expired on the 2^nd half, Evan Waites deflected the WA pass in the end zone keeping the lead at 20-7 for Prentiss.

The Jaguars kicked off to Prentiss to start the 2^nd half to Eric Powell who returned the kick 11 yards to the 39 yard line. Six plays later the Saints found themselves facing a 4^th and 13 on the Wayne Academy 23 yard line. Daley was called upon to attempt the 40 yard field goal, but the kick missed its mark giving the ball over to the Jags. Wayne put together its most impressive drive of the evening moving the ball all the way to the Saints 12 yard line. It was there they connected on a TD pass cutting the Prentiss lead to 20-13. The PAT missed, but the Jags were back in the game. Powell fielded the kickoff and returned it 19 yards to the 39 yard line. Two plays later, Daughdrill hit the ground running on a 50 yard scamper that was called back for holding. That didn’t stop the Saints though as they found the end zone six plays later on a 2 yard run by Powell. Greenlee attempted the 2pt conversion pass to Waites, but was unsuccessful. Prentiss now had the lead at 26-13. Daley’s 40 yard kick was returned to the Prentiss 40 yard line by the Jaguars. The very next play, Powell intercepted the WA pass and returned it 4 yards to the PCS 34 yard line. Daughdrill took the 1^st down play 56 yards on the ground and 15 more was added following a horse collar call against Wayne. On the first play of the 4^th quarter Greenlee rushed into the end zone for another Saints touchdown. Daley added the PAT making the score 33-13 with 11:55 left in the game. Daley angled his next kick 25 yards with no return. The Jaguars showed how impressive their offense was by moving the ball to the Saints 36 yard line, but the Saint defense was not about to give up. Daley got his second interception of the night on the 12 yard line and returned it to the 35 yard line. One play later, Powell took off on a 65 yard touchdown run. Daley again added the PAT giving the Saints a commanding 40-13 lead with 9:24 to play. The kickoff went 40 yards for Daley and the returner had nowhere to go as he was tackled 4 yards later. Four plays later the Jaguars would have to punt back to the Saints. Following a 45 yard punt with no return, Prentiss would start their next drive at the PCS 25 yard line. Goddard took the first handoff 48 yards and Daughdrill finished the rest on the next play as he scored from 27 yards out. An errant snap on the PAT resulted in a failed 2pt conversion keeping the score at 46-13. Following the Daley kickoff, the Jaguars refused to go quietly. They moved the ball all the way to the PCS 5 yard line. Not about to give up a cheap score, the Saint defense stiffened and ended the game on the 4 yard line as time expired on the game. The Saints will travel to Vicksburg this Friday for a non-conference matchup against Porter’s Chapel.
Immediately following the handshake and prayer, the PCS family began its lighted sky lantern tribute to the friends and family members who have experienced cancer. This is a painful reminder each year of how many loved ones we’ve lost to this terrible disease. Hopefully with continued support from loyal PCS fans like you we can put an end to cancer once and for all. The PCS Relay team wishes to thank each one of you for your donations and assistance in Friday nights ‘program.

Offensive Stat:

Blake Greenlee 3/8 71 yds, 10 rushes, 31 yd

Eric Powell, 2 rushes 67 yd, 2 TD

Michael Goddard, 7 rushes 75 yds

Austin Daughdrill, 16 rushes 119 yd 3 TD

Josh Daley, 3 receptions 71 yds

Defensvie Stats:

Eric Powell, 5 t 2 a, 1 int

Jesse Hall 1 a

Blake Greenlee 3 t 3 a, 1 fumble rec, 1 TD

Blaise Holder 5t 9a

Michael Goddard 3t2a

Austin Daughdrill 4t 4a

Josh Daley 2t, 2 int

Kash Miller 3t 8a

Jack Chavis 2a

Micah Bullock 1t1a

Kolbe Verdun 3t 4a

Ned Sanders 1t2a

Triston Bridges 1t 1a

Jade Lee 1a