Windsor Academy whips host Augusta Prep, 41-7
By William Reyes | Sports writer
Windsor Academy defeated Augusta Prep 41-7 on Friday night, Aug. 28, at Richards Stadium.
The host Cavaliers kept it close for awhile, but eventually the Knights ran away from their opponent.
It did not go as planned at the start for Prep. On the first play of the game, the Cavaliers fumbled the football, and Windsor started at the Cav 30-yard line for its first drive.
Jaquan Lewis ran the ball into the end zone on a 20-yard touchdown for the Knights (2-1). CJ Harvell drilled the extra point, and, just like that, Windsor had a 7-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the first quarter.
Prep was able to counter when quarterback Carter Chavous dropped back to pass, rolled out to his right and delivered a 10-yard strike to wide receiver Kees Van Zelst, who broke two tackles and ran into the end zone for the host team’s first—and, as it turned out, only—score of the game. Benji Connell added the PAT for a 7-7 tie.
On their next drive, the Knights once again drove down the field and eventually found themselves in a fourth-and-goal situation at the Cavalier 2-yard line. Lewis fought his way into the end zone from there, but the Knights’ extra-point try was wide right for a 13-7 edge.
Windsor got the ball right back after a Prep fumble, and Windsor wasted no time capitalizing on the turnover as, once again, Lewis took a handoff into the end zone for his third touchdown of the game. The extra point was blocked by Prep’s Sawyer Gates for a 19-7 Knights’ lead.
Prep struggled to do anything on offense in the first half and that enabled the Knights to pull away.
Windsor scored once again, this time on a seven-yard quarterback keeper by quarterback Heath Woodard, who also ran in a two-point conversion. Thus, the Knights’ lead grew to 27-7 with only a minute left in the half.
The Cavaliers (1-2) tried their best to score before the half ended, without success, and Prep did show some life in the third quarter when cornerback Joshua Ledbetter intercepted a Windsor pass. Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t capitalize on the take-away.
The Knights then drove down the field before Woodard ran up the middle for his second rushing touchdown. Another extra point gave the visiting team a 34-7 lead as the third quarter came to an end.
To finish off the scoring, Harvell caught a short screen pass and ran it in for the TD.
“I think we played best up front,” said Windsor coach Dylan Bass after the game. “We were able to establish the run, and the defense played lights out.”
Despite the win, the Knights’ Woodard still threw two interceptions.
“Woodard just has to see it earlier,” Bass said. “He's a little hesitant and we haven't really gotten our passing game clicking yet. I still have full confidence Woodard.”
The Knights will host the Sherwood Christian Academy Eagles next week. Augusta Prep will hope to bounce back in the Cavs’ away game against Trinity Christian.
(Note: A version of this story appeared in Augusta Good News.)
Contact William Reyes at wireyes@augusta.edu.
Augusta Prep’s Kees van Zelst (1) goes for a pass while being sandwiched by two Windsor academy defenders on Friday, Aug. 28, in the Cavaliers’ 41-7 loss to the Knights. At the top of the page, Knight quarterback Heath Woodard (11) fires a pass to teammate Walker Jones (2). (photos by William Reyes/the Bell Ringer)
