By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Western Alamance produced a bunch of highlights Friday night, primarily packing those into a stellar fourth quarter.
The reward was a 35-14 non-conference victory at Cummings High School.
“We just really turned it on,” Western coach Jeff Snuffer said.
The Warriors churned out more than 300 yards on the ground, led by Kevion Hudson’s 123 yards on 17 carries. Mason Hogsed picked up 72 yards on seven attempts and Damari Mims added 62 yards on five carries.
“We were more physical than them, and that’s how we came home with the (win),” Hudson said. “Conditioning works. They got gassed and we didn’t, and that’s how we got them.”
Both teams are now 1-1.
The teams played to a 14-14 tie last year, with the game concluding prematurely because of stormy weather. Through three quarters Friday night, they were deadlocked at 7-7.
Then that changed when Hogsed scored on a run on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Calvin Galloway Jr. stretched the lead when he returned an interception for a touchdown, covering about 40 yards.
“I just saw the ball in the air and went to go get it,” Galloway said. “I’m glad I could close the game up. I just thank my boys for blocking for me to get that touchdown.”
With 5:49 to play, Hudson’s 10-yard touchdown run added to the burst.
See post-game interviews with Western Running Back Kevion Hudson: https://bit.ly/3TkcRwK
and Western Cornerback Calvin Galloway, Jr.: https://bit.ly/3TiKFKT
Cummings finally responded on Johnniyus Sharpe’s pass to Khavarie Hightower, who turned it into a 53-yard scoring play by breaking several would-be tackles.
Western tacked on the last touchdown on James Newton’s 30-yard run.
Cummings opened the scoring when Jonathan Paylor reached the end zone on a 32-yard screen pass.
After that, Paylor didn’t get loose often.
“Our defense, we felt, played great,” Snuffer said. “It’s hard to bottle up a guy that good.”
Western had opportunities earlier in the game but didn’t always make the most of those. Two turnovers and a missed field goal hindered its bid to snatch momentum.
By the end, the Warriors had new-found confidence.
“I think this is good momentum into next week against Eastern Guilford,” Galloway said.
Williams 41, Eastern Guilford 20
The host Bulldogs built a first-half lead and made it hold up at Burlington Memorial Stadium.
Williams is 1-1. Eastern Guilford dropped to 0-2.
Carrboro 14, Graham 6
At Carrboro, the visiting Red Devils continued to struggle on offense, but their defense proved stingier than in the opening loss to Southern Alamance.
Area scores – Week #2 (August 26)
Eastern Alamance 28, Southern Alamance 14
Western Alamance 35, Cummings 14
Carrboro 14, Graham 6
Eastern Randolph 69, Asheboro 7
McMichael 40, Bartlett Yancey 38
