By Staff
Rhonda Hester, Franklin County Times
VINA – Phillips used a relentless running game to defeat the Vina Red Devils 55-6 Friday night.
Quarterback Brent Townsend scored on a 9-yard run in the first quarter to cut the lead to 7-6 after Phillips had scored on a 21-yard run.
Townsend was replaced by senior running back Nash Creekmore in the third quarter when the sophomore quarterback was nailed in the rib cage while looking for a receiver downfield and was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure.
Phillips scored on runs of 1, 6, 21, 28 and 34 yards in the first half to take a 34-6 halftime lead. The Bears added a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown by Adam McCarley in the third quarter and a 3-yard run in the fourth for the final score.
Vina (1-3, 0-3) finished with 239 yards of total offense (107 passing, 132 rushing), while Phillips accumulated 401 yards (266 rushing, 135 passing).
Townsend finished 3-of-8 for 81 yards and one interception, while Creekmore was 2-of-5 for 24 yards and one interception. Creekmore added 71 rushing yards, and Townsend had 26. Defensively, Vina was led by Channing Haithcock (6 solo tackles, 5 assisted) and Bryan Darracott (4 solos, 2 assists).
Vina plays Mount Hope in its homecoming game next Friday at 7 p.m.