By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Booker T. Washington moved to the brink of finishing the regular season at .500 for the first time since 2012, but visiting Southwood didn’t make it easy Friday night.
The Lions (4-5, 3-3) weathered a strong effort from the winless Cowboys (0-8, 0-6) but prevailed 48-35 behind three Aaron Dillard touchdown runs and three TD passes by Devion Stewart.
But BTW coach Gary Cooper noted, “It got a little tight in there.”
The teams traded scoring strikes and big plays much of the first half before the Lions established control by scoring on its first two possessions after halftime, pushing away from a 30-21 lead.
Southwood was down 16 before the first half’s last snap, a broken play which became a scoring strike from midfield. The snap sailed over the head of Cowboys quarterback Cornelius Martin, who scooped it up, scrambled and found Lyquinton Pinkney down the sideline. Pinkney dodged defenders and raced downfield for six.
Martin had thrown a TD pass earlier.
“They played tough football,” said Cooper about the Cowboys. “Those kids did not give up, they didn’t cower away from the situation, they did not play like an 0-8 team. They played like a team in a playoff fight, and their people came with a good crowd supporting them which is good to see.”
The Lions, normally stout defensively in their wins, went against type Friday night.
“This is one of the few times this season our offense has carried our defense,” Cooper said. “Our defense has been strong the last two years, but tonight was the reverse of that.
“We moved the ball very well offensively. We came out the second half and got some breathing room.”
BTW opened a 48-21 lead and cruised home.
Tray Moore caught a pair of TD passes, one a 65-yarder. Another of Stewart’s scoring throws was a 60-yarder to DK Mitchell. Backup running back Christopher Mosley scored BTW’s last tally, with the help of his offensive line, which pushed him in from a pileup for almost 20 yards away, said Cooper.
Vincent Blake recovered a fumble for another Lions’ touchdown.
BTW meets Woodlawn next Friday at Independence Stadium with a trip to the playoffs assured, destination unknown but almost certainly on the road.
“That’s fine,” said Cooper. “We just want to go play.”
WOODLAWN 40, BOSSIER 14: The Bearkats started strongly behind Derrick Haynes, who had a touchdown run and a long TD reception for a 14-8 lead. Then Brandon Henderson and the Knights took command in the District 1-4A contest at Independence Stadium.
The versatile Knights’ senior, a threat to score in all three phases, played quarterback Friday night and was his usual ball-hawking self in the secondary, picking off two throws to raise his season total to eight interceptions.
Henderson posted three touchdowns. Quinton Wilson had a 100-yard rushing night and recorded four two-point conversions while Jeremiah Gustain added another. Kaden Pikes ran for TD and Javion Washington lit up the scoreboard on a 74-yard pick six, while the Knights’ defense notched a safety.
Woodlawn coach Thedrick Harris was pleased with his ballclub, which improved to 3-6 overall, 2-4 in 1-4A by rolling past its season 15.5 scoring average. Bossier now has the same mark after its fourth straight loss.
“I was proud of the kids. They focused themselves, eliminated some early mistakes and ran the ball well, threw it when we needed to, got some first downs and yardage out of the passing game,” he said. “Defensively we played really well on the front. They threw a lot of motions and shifts and overloads at us, and our kids adjusted well and played it well. Bossier has some really good kids over there.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com