Alex Brooks | Bladen Journal
BLADENBORO-The Fairmont Golden Tornados defeated the West Bladen Knights for a 26-14 victory on Thursday night in a SAC 6 clash. The Golden Tornados clawed their way from a 14-6 halftime deficit to defeat their opponents by two scores in the fourth quarter. The host battled for four quarters but fell victim to heavy legs after the Fairmont offense capitalized on long drives and turnovers late in the game.
The Knights opened the scoring on a 47-yard Hezikiah Adams punt return in the first quarter of play. Fairmont failed to respond on their next possession and the Knights would take over on their own 42 after the punt. West Bladen was able to move the ball down the field on positive gains from senior running-back Messyah Whitted and Adams would take a reception down to around their opponents 15.
The Knights offense stalled however and they brought on the field goal unit for a 32-yard try but unfortunately the kick fell just short of the mark to keep things at 7-0. The Golden Tornado offense barely moved an inch on their next possession and were sending out their punt team once more. West Bladen were set-up with decent field position at the halfway line after the ensuing punt but a fumbled handoff on the first play gave back possession to their opponents.
Fairmont capitalized on the mistake on a 28-yard Tyrek Thompson touchdown reception with 3:24 remaining in the first quarter. The Golden Tornados failed to cover the 2-point conversion so their opponents held onto a one point lead at 7-6.
Both teams struggled to find a rhythm on offense in the second quarter so the Knights defense had to do the scoring. Fairmont suffered their second turnover of the half after a bad snap rolled into the endzone from the 23-yard line and West Bladen junior defensive-end Tyleak Ballard fell on top of the ball for the touchdown. The Knights offense continued to struggle with moving the ball on offense and turned the ball over on downs to start the third quarter.
Fairmont got a huge run on 3rd-and-14 to get them across midfield and set up a pending 25-yard touchdown run from junior running-back Tristan Longchallen with 5:12 remaining in the third quarter. West Bladen were able to get a positive drive going on their next possession with their opponents within two points of their slender lead. Sophomore Hunter Hester connected with Adams on a deep ball near the host sideline and Adams was tackled around the 22 yard line after the catch.
Whitted would carry the ball a couple of times to help set his team up with 1st-and-goal before the end of the third quarter. Fairmont senior defensive-tackle Jalarion Owens tackled a runner behind the line on third down but a holding penalty would be accepted by the visitors to push their opponents backwards to replay the down.
West Bladen sophomore running-back Ahmarie White was tackled short of the goal line to force 4th-and-goal from about 8 yards out. The Knights kept the ball in White’s hands on fourth down but was stopped short at the 2-yard line to turn the ball over on downs at the start of the fourth quarter. Fairmont got another big run on a jet sweep but their offense eventually stalled out in the redzone to turn the ball over on downs.
West Bladen started with the ball on the 12-yard line and got four yards on two runs to bring up third down. Fairmont brought the pressure to the quarterback and forced an interception to set their offense up within striking distance of the endzone. Senior quarterback Gabriel Washington would run the ball in on a designed run to give his team the lead with 4:38 remaining in the half.
The Knights offense attempted to respond but another interception would put them in the same predicament a few moments later. Fairmont senior running-back Nehemiah Baker scored the final touchdown of the night on a run around the edge to put the game out of reach with less than two minutes remaining. West Bladen now move to an overall record of 2-7 and they will take on Red Springs for their final game of the season.
Thursday was also Senior Night for 16 seniors–Robert Osborne, Joseph Cooper, William Stevens, Noah Rogers, Amari Haynes, Kemarie Washington, Christopher Perez Ortiz, Xavier Spaulding, Aaron Lewis, Cornelius Ester, Messyah Whitted, Mailjah Mckoy, Travis Baxley, Stefane Jessup, Jahmar Richardson, and Deyon McDonald.