In West Marion’s homecoming game, the Trojans offense put on a show with seven first-half touchdowns in a 59-26 win over Vancleave Friday night.
The Trojans (3-1) put up more than 600 yards of total offense with 433 on the ground, averaging 15.5 yards per carry. Head coach Brad Duncan said part of the success was due to Vancleave trying to load the box.
“They had everybody up there in your face, and if you happened to squeeze through and break one there was nobody back there. It was partly our blocking, partly our running backs and their scheme as well,” he said. “We had some long runs, and it was fun to watch.”
The veteran coach added that not only has the O-line been impressive in the run game, but no defense is even sniffing Jayden Duncan in the pocket right now.
Defensively, the only time West Marion had trouble was when Vancleave completely switched its offense to direct snaps, and Duncan credited defensive coordinator Brandon Thornhill for coming up with another new scheme.
“It was a completely different look than what they saw on film last week against Sumrall when we were begging Sumrall to run the football. This time we were begging Vancleave to throw it around a little bit,” he said. “(Thornhill) is doing a heck of a job taking away what the other team likes to do,” he said.
Octavious Harvey got it started with a rushing touchdown in his first game back after missing last week’s game with a concussion. Behind a great seal block from a pulling Devon Hutto, Harvey broke a tackle, made a sudden cut to make four people miss and scooted 48 yards to pay dirt.
After a quick Vancleave three-and-out, Jartavious “Tater Rabbit” Martin broke the ankles of Vancleave’s slot corner at the line and outran the defense for a 65-yard touchdown to make it 13-0. West Marion got down to Vancleave’s 10 on its next drive, but a bad call led to a turnover. A jet sweep touch pass was dropped, which should have just been an incomplete pass, but it was ruled a fumble and the Bulldogs recovered. But as the saying goes, “ball don’t lie,” and on the very next play Martin stripped Vancleave’s running back and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown to increase the 20-0 lead with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Then Larry Magee burned both the cornerback and safety on a seam route and hauled in an easy 78-yard touchdown from Jayden Duncan following another Bulldogs three-and-out. Vancleave got into the red zone on the ensuing drive, but Qavonte Swanigan broke up a fourth-down pass to force a turnover on downs. Just before the first quarter was over, Martin scored for a third time on a 68-yard run behind a pancake block by Cooper Foxworth to extend the lead to 33-0.
Duncan lauded Foxworth’s blocking and said he’s as instrumental to the running game’s success as anyone on the offense. He added there’s a reason why every big run the Trojans break, they’re following right behind No. 44.
“He played guard for us last year, and him being able to block on that edge for us we don’t ever have to worry about Cooper’s block,” he said. “I told him the other day in front of the team — I’ve had some really good tight ends — and he’s got to be right up there with the best, if not the best blocking tight end I’ve had.”
Martin picked up touchdown No. 4 midway through the second quarter on a well-designed wheel route out of the backfield. Magee’s slant route from the outside created a natural pick, and Vancleave’s linebacker who was in man coverage on Martin had to take a flat angle, leading to the 18-yard receiving score.
An unconventional quarterback sneak finally got the Bulldogs on the board. Christian Kell was initially stopped on the sneak at the line but never went down and was able to get free from the pile, get to the corner and score a 13-yard touchdown to make it 39-6.
West Marion was able to answer once more before the end of the half. Qavonte Swanigan created separation on a post route and caught a 12-yard score from Jayden Duncan with five seconds left to send it to half 46-6.
On West Marion’s second drive of the second half, Martin broke off a 60-yard run in which he made five defenders miss and reversed field. On the next play, Jakaden Mark found pay dirt from 11 yards out to increase the lead to 53-6.
Vancleave answered right back to make it 53-12 with a 63-yard touchdown run by Dayon Bilbo on a fluke play. Mark had wrapped him up in the backfield, but as he went to sling him to the ground, Bilbo kept his feet and accelerated out of it. But less than a minute later, Magee got skinny though a hole and busted through the Vancleave defense for a 66-yard score to push it to 59-12. Vancleave added two late touchdowns in the fourth quarter with West Marion’s backups in, but it was far too little too late.
West Marion (3-1) has its biggest test of the year Friday night as Jeff Davis County (3-1) visits Foxworth. The Trojans beat the Jaguars on the road in the regular season last year, but Jeff Davis knocked them out of the playoffs on its way to yet another state championship. Duncan said with Jeff Davis’ box full of championship rings and its patented Wing T offense, the Trojans know what to expect although it doesn’t make the Jaguars any easier to handle.
“They’re well-disciplined and a really good football team again. They’re coming to us, and the last two times they’ve been here we haven’t even scored against them,” he said. “We got our work cut out for us.”
The difference in the playoff game last year was West Marion’s two empty trips to the red zone, and Duncan said the Trojans will have to be able to score when they get those chances.
“They’re going to be able to move the ball against us and run the ball against us so we have to be able to score more than 14 points,” he said.
West Marion actually contained the Jaguars running game really well in both games, but it was Jeff Davis’ playaction passing that hurt the Trojans.
“You spend all night long stopping the run, filling your lanes, and they catch that one time peaking in the backfield and the guy is by you for a long pass. They don’t throw it around a lot, but when they do it’s for a big play a lot of times,” Duncan said.
