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Magnolia downs Willis for third win in row
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| Willis’ Damion Bishop, who was injured in the game, is tackled by Magnolia’s Easton Hohensee Friday night. |
By Jay Langley
WILLIS – For the first time since the 2002 season, the Magnolia High Bulldogs (3-1, 2-0 in District 18-4A) have won three games in the one season thanks to a 26-9 win over Willis Friday night at Berton A. Yates Stadium.
The difference in the game was turnovers as the Bulldogs forced five in the win and have forced 13 in their last three games while giving the ball away only twice in that span.
The Bulldogs scored on their first possession when quarterback Connor Wehr crossed the goal line at the 8:30 mark of the first quarter on a nine-yard touchdown run. The extra-point attempt was blocked by Willis’ Austin Luke for a 6-0 Magnolia lead.
On Willis’ next possession the Wildkats put the ball on the turf near midfield and Magnolia defensive tackle Andrew Sherman returned the fumble 55 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 Magnolia lead.
“That’s a good, athletic football team we played and tonight we made came up with some critical turnovers early to give us a lead,” Magnolia coach Andy Sexton said.
Willis (3-1, 1-1) cut the lead to 13-3 with 4:54 in the first quarter on a 29-yard field goal from Ryan Lasky.
After a sack of Wehr on fourth-and-18 by Devante Graham gave the ball back to Willis, the Wildkats looked to move to within one score. But Joe Bolin intercepted a Damion Bishop pass at the Magnolia 23-yard line to keep the Wildkats off the board.
Following a Magnolia punt, Willis again drove toward the Magnolia end zone. But this time it was Wehr who picked off a Bishop pass at the Magnolia 18-yard line.
“We shot ourselves in the foot tonight,” Willis coach Audie Jackson said. “It’s hard to win when every time you touch the ball you turn it over.”
The Bulldogs used the momentum and marched down the field on a five-play drive which ended when Dennis Dunbar scored on a 39-yard run. Dunbar carried the ball just five times but led Magnolia with 116 rushing yards.
The Bulldogs intercepted their third pass of the first half when Justin Caka picked off a Bishop pass at the Willis 30 with 1:44 to play in the second quarter. Bishop came into the game with two interceptions on the season.
“We did a great job of staying in front of their receivers tonight,” Sexton said. “We did not let them beat us deep.”
Magnolia then gave the ball right back when Luke recovered a fumble at the 12 with a minute to go in the half.
But unfortunately for Willis it was much of the same in the third quarter. After Magnolia opened the quarter with a three-and-out, Willis could not control the Justin Caka punt and fumbled inside their own 20.
Another Graham sack on fourth down prevented a Magnolia score.
Then with 5:24 to play in the third, the Wildkats lost more than just another turnover as Bishop was carted off the field after a run for two yards.
Jackson said it is way too early to tell what happened to his starting quarterback.
The Wildkats scored on a 10-yard run from Everett Reed in with 2:24 to play in the third but could not get any closer than 19-10.
Magnolia had the ball for all but 1:15 of the fourth quarter and went back up by 19 with a 1-yard TD run by Arnold Neverez.
“We still have to get better,” Sexton said. “But this is a big win for our kids.”
The difference in the game was turnovers as the Bulldogs forced five in the win and have forced 13 in their last three games while giving the ball away only twice in that span.
The Bulldogs scored on their first possession when quarterback Connor Wehr crossed the goal line at the 8:30 mark of the first quarter on a nine-yard touchdown run. The extra-point attempt was blocked by Willis’ Austin Luke for a 6-0 Magnolia lead.
On Willis’ next possession the Wildkats put the ball on the turf near midfield and Magnolia defensive tackle Andrew Sherman returned the fumble 55 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 Magnolia lead.
“That’s a good, athletic football team we played and tonight we made came up with some critical turnovers early to give us a lead,” Magnolia coach Andy Sexton said.
Willis (3-1, 1-1) cut the lead to 13-3 with 4:54 in the first quarter on a 29-yard field goal from Ryan Lasky.
After a sack of Wehr on fourth-and-18 by Devante Graham gave the ball back to Willis, the Wildkats looked to move to within one score. But Joe Bolin intercepted a Damion Bishop pass at the Magnolia 23-yard line to keep the Wildkats off the board.
Following a Magnolia punt, Willis again drove toward the Magnolia end zone. But this time it was Wehr who picked off a Bishop pass at the Magnolia 18-yard line.
“We shot ourselves in the foot tonight,” Willis coach Audie Jackson said. “It’s hard to win when every time you touch the ball you turn it over.”
The Bulldogs used the momentum and marched down the field on a five-play drive which ended when Dennis Dunbar scored on a 39-yard run. Dunbar carried the ball just five times but led Magnolia with 116 rushing yards.
The Bulldogs intercepted their third pass of the first half when Justin Caka picked off a Bishop pass at the Willis 30 with 1:44 to play in the second quarter. Bishop came into the game with two interceptions on the season.
“We did a great job of staying in front of their receivers tonight,” Sexton said. “We did not let them beat us deep.”
Magnolia then gave the ball right back when Luke recovered a fumble at the 12 with a minute to go in the half.
But unfortunately for Willis it was much of the same in the third quarter. After Magnolia opened the quarter with a three-and-out, Willis could not control the Justin Caka punt and fumbled inside their own 20.
Another Graham sack on fourth down prevented a Magnolia score.
Then with 5:24 to play in the third, the Wildkats lost more than just another turnover as Bishop was carted off the field after a run for two yards.
Jackson said it is way too early to tell what happened to his starting quarterback.
The Wildkats scored on a 10-yard run from Everett Reed in with 2:24 to play in the third but could not get any closer than 19-10.
Magnolia had the ball for all but 1:15 of the fourth quarter and went back up by 19 with a 1-yard TD run by Arnold Neverez.
“We still have to get better,” Sexton said. “But this is a big win for our kids.”
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