Windsor pulls away in second half to whip Westminster
By William Reyes | Sports writer
Windsor Academy pummeled host Westminster 32-7 on Friday night, Sept. 18, in a battle of two former eight-man prep football rivals.
After the Wildcats went three-and-out on their first drive, Windsor started its offensive night at its own 30-yard line. It seemed like the Knights’ chances to score died after they were forced to punt due to three straight incomplete passes, but the visiting team’s special teams unit had other plans.
The Wildcats (0-5) fumbled the punt, and Windsor (4-1) was given a golden opportunity to score after recovering the ball at the Westminster 45-yard line. The Knights wasted no time driving to the 5-yard line after a 32-yard quarterback keeper by Heath Woodard.
After that, Woodard handed the ball off to running back Jaquan Lewis, who rushed his way into the end zone for Windsor’s first score of the night. After CJ Harvell’s PAT kick, Windsor was up 7-0 with 6:48 left in the first.
The hosts took over at their own 38, hoping to match the visitors’ score. However, Westminster could not convert and was forced to punt the ball right back to Windsor.
The Knights started their drive at their own 35-yard line. After a handful of rushes and a 25-yard reception by wide receiver Ryder Dale, Windsor was set up for another touchdown. Lewis rushed six yards for the score, but a poor snap led to a missed extra point. The Knights led 13-0 as the first came to an end.
On their next possession, the Knights saw Wildcats’ cornerback Dylan Bui intercepted a Windsor pass. Starting at the Windsor 34-yard line, Westminster drove in for their only score of the night.. Running back TJ Daniels took a direct snap into the end on a fourth-and-goal at the Knights’ 3 yard line. After a successful extra point, the Wildcats had cut down the lead to 13-7 with 4:21 left in the first half.
Windsor received the second-half kickoff and began at its own 36-yard line, but Westminster’s Jaeger Rausch had a big sack. Then the Knights turned the ball over on downs after a failed fourth-down pass. However, Windsor could not sustain a drive to keep the game at 13-7.
Following a monster 30-yard pass caught by wide receiver Jadyn Hardeman, the visitors were at the Wildcats’ 20-yard line. Woodard then took a direct snap into the end zone, but Windsor failed the following 2 point conversion
One possession later, the Knights once again had the ball, this time at their 43. Windsor was quick to capitalize on the possession, as Dale made an unbelievable one-handed catch on an underthrown ball and ran it into the end zone for the fourth touchdown of the visitors’ night. The following extra point was drilled, and the visitors extended the lead to 26-7 with 8:35 left in the fourth.
Westminster was unable to score any points for the remainder of the game. Windsor, on the other hand, managed to score a final rushing touchdown, this time carried by running back Hunter McGreggor. The extra pointed failed.
“I think we came out lethargic; we got a little too confident with ourselves,” Windsor coach Dylan Bass said. “We responded really well at halftime, started to march down the field and turned the tide.”.
Bass also credited receivers Dale and Hardeman for their play.
“Those two guys are leading the way for us in the passing game,” Bass said.
Windsor will hope to continue its winning ways at Trinity Christian on Sept. 25, while Westminster will hope to get its first win at Central Fellowship Christian Academy that same night.
(Note: A version of this story appeared in Augusta Good News.)
Contact William Reyes at wireyes@augusta.edu.
Windsor's CJ Harvell nails an extra point in the Knights' 32-7 win at Westminster. At the top of the page, Westminster's Rhett Ketterman (2) celebrates a touchdown by teammate TJ Daniels (88) in the Wildcats' 32-7 loss to Windsor Academy on Sept.18. (photos by William Reyes/the Bell Ringer)
