RED DRAGONS FLY BY SMASH

by Gridiron Media

Lexington’s team effort of 10 touchdowns by 9 players allows the Red Dragons to start 2-0

Lexington, Kentucky –What a day for some football!  The grills were grilling burgers and dogs, kettlekorn was popping, flavored shaved ice being served, fans flying in, and the Lexington Red Dragons appeared out of a cloud of smoke to open up their home opener game in the beautiful horse capital of the world, Lexington Kentucky.

The Lexington Red Dragons(2-0) defeated the West Virginia Smash(0-2) in this past Saturday’s Gridiron Developmental Football League matchup between the two Xtreme North Division teams by a final score of 70-6. 

The Red Dragon’s defense kept their offense off the field for the first 10 minutes of the game so that they could score the first 19 points with 3 interceptions for touchdowns by 3 different players. 

It was then former EKU standout Bennie Coney’s time to begin working.  With 5 minutes left in the 1st quarter, Coney stepped onto the field for the first time in the game and launched his first pass which flew 47 yards to Mark Wright for his first completion.  Coney followed it up the next play with a pass to Dandre Mack who scampered past defenders 16 yards to the endzone to make the score 26-0.  The Smash tried to put together a drive of their own the following possession, but it was intercepted by Lewis Morrison and returned 47 yards to the Smash 5 yard line.  Lawrence Warfield, Jr completed the score the next play with a 5 yard run off tackle to make the score 33-0. 

The Smash offense struggled to move the ball once again their following possession and punted to Lexington.  The following play Coney dropped in a 27 yard touchdown pass in the corner of the endzone to Mark Wright(39-0).  The Smash moved to the run attack on their ensuing possession which ended on the second play with a fumble and the Red Dragons recovered.  Coney stepped back on the field long enough to rifle a 30 yard pass to a wide open Khmarkis Blanton standing in the back of the endzone to make it 46-0 with 8:08 in the 2nd quarter.  WV Smash punted their next possession again and the Red Dragons took over possession.  Coney connected once again with Dandre Mack who juked a couple defenders and spun making a third miss to score and ran 37 yards for another Red Dragons touchdown to make the score 53-0 and the half ended. 

The second half started with a running clock but not without excitement as the first play to start the half was a 61 yard run by Antwan Williams for another Red Dragons touchdown to make the score 60-0.  The Smash punted again.  Coney chose a new target in newcomer Curtis Brown who joined us from Union College for a 7 yard touchdown pass to make the score 67-0.  The Smash fighting until the end drove down the field and on a free play from a defensive offsides call,  got a receiver behind the Red Dragons defenders to score on a 24 yard pass completion for a touchdown. 

As both teams ran the clock down in the final quarter, Red Dragons backup QB Mike Thomas drove down the field by hitting Tavione Fields for a 64 yard bomb in stride.  This set up a game ending 47 yard field goal by former UK kicker Craig McIntosh who chipped it in with ease.  The final score in Lexington was 70-6. 

The Red Dragons had 9 different players that scored touchdowns.  Of the 19 offensive plays they ran, 7 of them were offensive touchdowns.  Defensively 30 different players had tackles and 3 different players accounted for 4 interceptions.  Final game attendance was 179 fans.

Offensive player of the game was Bennie Coney who went 6-8-0 with 167 yards and 5 TDs.

Defensive player of the game was the entire Red Dragons defense

Special Teams player of the game was Craig McIntosh 10 kickoffs for 468 yards, 3 TBs, 7-7 XPs, 47 yd  Fg

The Red Dragons will take Memorial Day off and return to play on June 2nd as they meet the Chattanooga Eagles at Ridgeland High School in Rossville, Georgia for an expected battle to the finish.