RED DRAGONS SECURE THE XTREME NORTH DIVISION!

by Gridiron Media

Lexington outlasts the Smash to sweep the series between the two teams, securing Xtreme North.

Morgantown, West Virginia – What a beautiful campus for a football game!  The nice turf football field sits in a lowered setting with the campus buildings built high around the field with a scores booth overlooking the field on the other side.  Walking down into the stadium before the game, you could hear the echo of the player’s voices and you could tell the atmosphere was just right for a battle between two great teams, and that it was!

This game was the second in the series between the two teams with the first played in Lexington with the Red Dragons pulling the victory by the score of 70-6 and the Smash traveling light; this time around it was the Red Dragons turn.  The Smash did some major recruiting and showed up with an attitude and a tough nosed football team for their home game. The battle was on in Morgantown!

The Smash came into the field beating their pads and chanting during warm ups and they started strong scoring 2 quick passing touchdowns from QB Scott Stone to WR Nijay Kelly.  The Red Dragons then finally started turning it on by completing a 45 yard pass from backup QB Santonio Wilson to WR, Mark Wright.  It was followed up with a 2 yard TD pass from Wilson to Wright to make the score 14-6.  The Smash returned the favor with a 44 yard pass from Stone to Kelly once again for the TD to make the score 21-6.  The Smash had a commanding lead by the end of the first quarter.  The second quarter was a defensive battle with neither offense able to put it in the end zone.  The Smash were close, but they then were stopped at the 9 and had a 29 yard field goal blocked.  Halftime.


The Red Dragons came out in the 3rd quarter and took over starting out with a 68 yard kick return by AJ Williams to the Smash 20.  Several plays later and AJ Williams ran in it in from the 3 yard line to make the score 21-13.  The Smash drove right back down the field on the following series but they were picked off in the end zone by Toryan Whiting which was returned 42 yards.  The Red Dragons were forced to a 3 and out and punted.  The Smash then threw a 33 yard pass from Scott once again to Kelly to get within striking range.  

The Smash switched to a ground and pound game to finish their job with their bruiser running back Joe Street who inched the Smash closer and closer until he reached the goal line making the score 27-13.  Then things got exciting as the XP was blocked by Patrick Smith, picked up by Toryan Whiting, and returned 98 yards for the 2 points to make the score 27-15.  The ensuing kick is fielded by the Red Dragons Anton Hamilton who returns the ball 50 yards to the Smash 19 yard line.  The Red Dragons also move to the ground game in the red zone and end up punching it in with a 10 yard run for the touchdown by Lawrence Warfield, Jr to make the score 27-21.  The Smash with their own great play also block the XP and returned it up the sideline but was finally brought down at the Smash 35.  


4th quarter!

The Smash are forced to a 3 and out and have to punt.  The punt is fumbled and Tamarick Hipps recovers the ball at the Smash 20 yard line.  The Red Dragons cannot move the ball and decide to go for it on 4th and 13 on the Smash 23 yard line.  Red Dragons QB, Wilson, hikes the ball rolls all the way left outside of the left hash, reverses direction and sprints all the way across field to the right sideline outside the numbers to find no open receivers and again reverses his direction left and at the left hash fires a TD pass to Khmarkis Blanton open in the corner of the endzone to make the score 27-27.  As if it weren’t exciting enough, the XP was snapped low and fumbled and then picked up by Wilson who ran in a 2 point conversion to give the Red Dragons the first lead of the game 29-27.  With time running out, the Smash throw an interception and the Red Dragons take 2 knees in victory formation.  It was a battle!

The Red Dragons clinch the Xtreme North Division securing a top 4 seed for the tournament, a true accomplishment from a first year team.

The West Virginia Smash(1-4) travel to the Buffalo Spartans(3-3) this upcoming Saturday.

The Lexington Red Dragons(4-1) are home to the Central Ohio Cavalry (1-5) this upcoming Saturday.