Bulldogs post first win of season over Wash. Co.

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CCHS (1-1, 1-0) combined a potent rushing attack with stout defense to gain their first win of the year, defeating Washington County (1-2, 0-1) 46-0 in a region game Friday night at H.G. Prim Stadium.

The Bulldogs capitalized on a five-yard WCHS punt with a 6 play, 33-yard TD drive. A.J. Ezell scored on a 9-yard run and Pace Young’s kick was good, giving CCHS an early 7-0 lead.

WCHS returned the ensuing kickoff to the CCHS 37- yard line, but the defense stiffened. Ethan Henson sacked the Quarterback on 4th down to give the ball back to the CCHS offense.

Following a 27-yard run by A.J. Ezell, Atterion Cheeseboro hit pay dirt with a 29-yard TD run. Young hit the extra point to close the first quarter scoring and CCHS led 14-0.

Neither team scored through the first half of the second quarter, then Jamarcus Washington put CCHS in the red zone with a 32- yard scamper. A.J. Ezell scored on the following play. The extra point was no good and CCHS stretched their lead to 20-0 with 4:42 remaining in the first half.

WCHS moved the ball for a few plays, gaining their only first down of the half with 2:53 left. The CCHS defense forced a fumble on the next play, giving the offense the ball on WCHS’ side of the field.

The Bulldogs marched 57 yards in six plays. Jayshaun Stokes scored his first career TD, slashing into the end zone on a 6-yard carry. Young connected on the extra point and CCHS took a 27-0 lead with :59 left in the half.

WCHS threatened to score after a long kickoff return set them up on the CCHS 20- yard line. Camryn Mitchell hit the Quarterback and forced a fumble, which Osiris Gomez scooped up and ran to the Washington County 47.

Young hit a quick pass to D.J. Glenn then Washington drug WCHS defenders for 14 yards. Young connected with Glenn for a 27-yard TD strike. The extra point was no good and CCHS took a 33-0 lead into halftime.

The teams agreed to 8- minute quarters in the second half and CCHS wasted no time expanding their lead. After 20-yard and 23-yard runs by Ezell, Washington scampered 11 yards into the endzone. The kick was no good and CCHS led 39-0 with 5:33 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

WCHS gained a first down before their next drive stalled and they punted to CCHS again. Cheeseboro capped the evening’s scoring with an electrifying 44-yard TD run. Young nailed the extra point to give the Bulldogs a 46-0 lead with 1:24 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

CCHS gave their younger players the opportunity to gain some experience in the 4th quarter. Sophomore Tamyus Pugh relieved Young at quarterback, with Sophomore Stan Gladney and Freshman Omarrion Hammond each adding runs of over 10 yards to the Bulldogs’ total offense for the night.

“I thought we were better this week with our assignments on both sides of the ball,” said CCHS Coach Stacy Luker. “I felt like we handled our business in this game the way we should have and it’s big to get this first region win.”

CCHS outgained WCHS 380 to 32. Ezell piled up 143 yards on 12 carries and 2 TDs, Cheeseboro added 81 yards on 3 carries and 2 TDs, and Washington gained 73 yards on 4 carries and 1 TD. Young completed 6 of his 10 pass attempts for 45 yards and a TD.

Through 2 games, the CCHS defense is only allowing 1 yard per rushing attempt and has only given up 8 first downs.

Washington County travels to region foe St. Luke’s Episcopal School (2-1, 1-0) in Mobile Friday night. St. Luke’s defeated WCHS on the field last year 54-0, but had to forfeit the game later in the season because of player eligibility issues.

Clarke County hosts 3A opponent Straughn (1-1) Friday night. The two teams have only played twice, with Straughn winning both contests in 2002 and 2003.

“They are very well coached. They are sound and disciplined on both sides of the ball,” Coach Luker observed. “This is going to be a measuring stick game for us. They are a top 10 3A team.”

The game kicks off at 7 p.m. at H.G. Prim Stadium.