Knights nip Bulldogs

By Staff
THERE IT GOES West Lauderdale quarterback Michael Pogue flips the ball away as he is being chased down by Clarkdale's Alvin Moffite. Pogue was called for an illegal forward pass on the play, because he was ruled beyond the line of scrimmage. West Lauderdale took a 19-7 win in the season opener for both teams. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Austin Bishop / EMG regional sports director
Aug. 29, 2003
It wasn't fancy, but it was a win. And West Lauderdale head football coach Stan McCain was proud to get it.
The homestanding Knights took advantage of early mistakes by the Clarkdale Bulldogs to take a 19-7 season-opening win in non-division action before a nice crowd on Thursday night.
All three of West Lauderdale's first-half touchdowns came after they got the ball on the Clarkdale side of the 50-yard line. And while the offense was taking advantage of good field position, the Knights defense was stopping Clarkdale cold, holding the Bulldogs to just one first down and six yards of rushing in the first half.
But what looked like a blowout early as West Lauderdale built a 19-0 lead, turned into a tight ballgame.
Lee was also pleased with the way his team refused to give up after falling behind early.
West Lauderdale, which squandered an early opportunity when a fumble deep in Clarkdale territory resulted in a missed field goal from 29-yards out, got its first points thanks to another Bulldog miscue.
West's Eric Smith picked off a Clarkdale pass and two plays later fullback Scott Truesdale blasted up the middle and into the endzone from 11-yards out to put the Knights on top. The kick by Michael Pogue put WL up 7-0 with 8:26 to play in the first quarter.
Two Clarkdale possessions later, a high snap forced the Bulldog punter to try to run for the first down, but he was stopped short. West took over on the Clarkdale 41 and scored six plays later on a 15-yard run by Josh Hanible with 1:24 left in the quarter. The kick was wide, leaving WL with a 13-0 advantage.
On Clarkdale's next punting attempt, the snap was low, again causing the punter to try and run for the first down. Again he was stopped short, with the Knights taking over at the CHS 49.
West Lauderdale then put together an impressive 11-play drive that resulted in a 2-yard touchdown run by Pogue with 5:21 left in the half. The conversion failed, giving the Knights a 19-0 advantage.
It looked as if the Knights were going to put the game away when they opened the second half with a drive that began at their own 22 and moved all the way down to the Clarkdale 12. But a pair of penalties resulted in West attempting a 40-yard field goal that fell short.
Clarkdale scored its lone touchdown five plays later when sophomore quarterback Blake Johnson hit a wide-open Quinton Walker, who had broken free behind the WL secondary, for a 71-yard touchdown pass. The kick by Jake Gray cut the West lead to 19-7.
Clarkdale would challenge the WL defense through the air for the rest of the game, but when the Knights got the ball they were able to run time off the clock with a pounding running game.
West Lauderdale rushed for 268 yards on 49 carries on the night, with Truesdale leading the way with 97 yards on 18 attempts. Dameon Baylor had 14 carries for 68 yards and Hanible picked up 51 yards on seven attempts.
Clarkdale picked up just seven yards rushing on the night as a team, but Johnson had a good passing night, hitting on 7-of-14 passes for 164 yards.
West Lauderdale hits the road to face Philadelphia next Friday night, while Clarkdale plays another Thursday night game when the Bulldogs host Enterprise.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x