FOXWORTH – West Marion and Presbyterian Christian School have played some close ballgames the last couple of seasons, but the Bobcats usually pull away in the second half to earn a win.
On Thursday in the season openers for both squads, the Trojans didn’t let up on their way to a 36-7 win over PCS. Even when PCS tried to grab a sliver of momentum late in the third quarter, West Marion closed the door.
“The difference in the past two years was they had numbers they could run at us and they could wear us out, because we’re always going to have the same numbers,” West Marion coach Brad Duncan said, alluding to PCS’ drop in players from 2017. “They had the depth that could put us away, and that’s where (PCS coach Derek White) is lacking right now.”
Duncan had never met White prior to Thursday night, but the two coaches did share a few phone calls leading up to the game. The long-time West Marion coach is impressed with the new PCS head coach.
“They’ll turn it around,” Duncan said. “I love that new coach. He’s got high energy and his Xs and Os are awesome. I went back and watch his South Carolina stuff. If they give him some time, the coaching staff, they have some really good coaches over there that will be good for that program.”
White told PineBeltSPORTS on Monday that 18 starters in Thursday night’s game have never had a varsity start, and that included his two quarterbacks, who he rotated throughout the night. Prior to kickoff, White said it was 19 players who never had a varsity start.
That was evident pretty quick, too.
Junior quarterback Layton Pitts fumbled on the game’s first offensive play, then West Marion turned that into a touchdown four plays later. After a PCS punt on the next possession, the Trojans needed just 45 yards to add to their lead.
Seemingly, before PCS could blink, West Marion built a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Even after the second touchdown, West Marion recovered a pooch kick on the ensuing kickoff, but the PCS defense made its first stop of the game.
It also didn’t hurt to start the first six drives of the game on PCS’ side of the field.
“We have a bunch of young guys and we have quarterbacks who haven’t played,” White said. “We played about as bad as we could of but still fought and we still had a chance. I think we shocked them with how we kept responding. Every week, as long as we stay healthy, we’re going to keep getting better.”
The Bobcats defense buckled down as the offense sputtered their wheels in the second quarter, and PCS senior Camp Tice recorded an interception during that time. But, West Marion moved the ball inside the red zone with less than a minute to go in the half, and a lightning strike with 27 seconds left put the game on pause for 30-plus minutes. Once play resumed, the Trojans punched it in to extend the lead to 22-0 heading into halftime.
The PCS offense began the second half with two three-and-outs while the defense did all it could to stay in the game. After 34 yards worth of penalties for West Marion, sophomore John Runnels fell on a bad snap in the end zone to put PCS on the board, 28-7.
“We have to do a better job on offense,” White said. “We’re not very good on offense. The defense played their guts out.
“I told our kids I didn’t care about anything but I wanted us to fight. I wanted the best effort out of our kids and we’re going to get better.”
The Trojans added another score and forced a safety to bring the game to its final.
The Bobcats will host Columbia Academy next Friday at 7 p.m., while West Marion will entertain Purvis.
West Marion 36,
PCS 7
Score by Quarter
PCS 0 0 7 0—7
West Marion 14 8 6 8—36
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
WM — Swanigan, 6 run, (2-point failed), 9:46.
WM — Miller, 26 pass from Holmes, (2-point successful), 4:10.
Second Quarter
WM — McGowen, 5 pass from Holmes, (2-point successful), 0:27.
Third Quarter
WM — Miller, 3 run, (2-point failedl), 4:41.
PCS — Runnels, fumble recovery, (kick successful), 1:08.
Fourth Quarter
WM — Pitts sacked for safety, 8:01.
WM — James, 4 run, (2-point failed), 5:01.
TEAM STATISTICS
PCS WM
First Downs 2 21
Rushes-Yards 20-26 51-262
Att-Comp-Int. 11-3-0 18-11-1
Passing Yards 18 161
Total Plays-Yards 31-44 69-423
Punts-Avg. 5-29 2-34.5
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-1
Penalties 4-28 9-79
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
PCS: Rhian 10-26, Necaise 3-2, Bailey 1-1, Pitts 6-(-3)
West Marion: Martin 11-77, James 13-71 TD, Holmes 13-42, Clement 5-26, Harey 3-21, Miller 2-13 TD, Swanigan 3-0 TD, Duncan 1-(-12).
Passing
PCS: Necaise 3-9, 18 yds.; Pitts 0-2.
West Marion: Holmes 9-15, 131 yds., 2 TDs, INT; Duncan 2-2, 30 yds.
Receiving
PCS: Bailey 3-18.
West Marion: Miller 7-126 TD, McGowen 2-20 TD, Martin 1-11, Husband 1-4.
