By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
Feb. 4, 2001
Who shut the Dawgs up?
The defending Class 1A/2A/3A state champion West Lauderdale Knights scored three unanswered goals in the second half to defeat W.P. Daniel High School of New Albany 4-1 Saturday afternoon at Collinsville.
The visiting Bulldogs got in a hole early in the first half when Tony Callois drew a red card after jawing with some Knight fans who were standing just behind the fence on the home side of the football field.
After he left the playing field, Callois went ballistic, repeatedly screaming profanity at the West fans as he stepped back onto the field before being restrained. After Callois cleared the playing area, the referee then sent the West fans up into the bleachers.
The disqualification left the New Albany team a man short the rest of the game.
The Knights took a 1-0 lead midway through the first half on a goal from Chris McWilliams.
New Albany came back to tie the game at 1-1 on a short header from Tyler McKenzie directly in front of the goal.
Bulldog goalkeeper Hunter Kitchens gathered in a potential go-ahead kick from McWilliams late in the first half and a kick from West's Chance Keely just went over the top of the cross bar as the teams entered halftime tied.
The second half belonged to the Knights after New Albany missed two early chances to take the lead. The first missed opportunity came when a penalty kick from close range sailed way over the net, while the second bid for the lead was denied when the ball richocheted off the top of the cross bar.
Josh Murphy gave the Knights the lead for good and Todd Doolittle took advantage of a 3-on-1 break to tack on an insurance goal.
Brandon Rodgers eased the ball into the right corner of the goal late to give the Knights their fourth goal.
West, which hasn't lost since Jan. 17, 2000, will play the Greenville St. Joseph-Caledonia winner Tuesday. The ninth-ranked Knights, 13-0-2, would host Caledonia or travel to St. Joseph.