WEST POINT – A festive feel was in the air as the West Point Middle School Warriors took the field on Homecoming Tuesday afternoon, but it was the Hanceville Middle School Bulldogs who played the role of spoiler, defeating the Warriors 24-8.
“We started out solid,” said Hanceville head coach Stephen Chandler.
Hanceville took the ball first as the game opened and it was the Bulldogs who struck first. After putting together a solid drive, Hanceville crossed the goal line for the first of three scores, when #17 strolled into the end zone with 5:43 left to play in the first quarter. He also carried the ball for the 2-point conversion to put Hanceville on top 8-0.
The majority of the second quarter was spent with both teams swapping possessions, neither able to gain any ground, that is until Hanceville got the ball with less than two minutes left in the quarter. The Bulldogs meticulously moved the ball down the field and capped the drive with a 6-yard pitch and catch from #15 to #4 for the score. #4 rumbled in for the 2-point play and Hanceville took a 16-0 advantage to the locker room.
The Warriors received the opening kick to start the second half, setting up shop at their own 26. Lucas McAfee was a workhorse on the drive, carrying the ball five times, including a 13-yard run to help West Point cross into Hanceville territory, but the drive bogged down from there and the Warriors turned the ball over on downs.
The West Point defense came up big on Hanceville’s next drive when Matthew Hawley stepped in front of a Bulldog pass and put the ball back in the hands of his offense. This helped West Point to their first points of the game as Will Franklin Cochran called his own number and punched the ball in from a yard out. He also added the 2-point conversion to pull West Point to within one score, 16-8.
Not to be outdone, Hanceville answered right back when #4 sped 52 yards down the near sideline for a touchdown. The Bulldogs added the 2-point play and effectively ended the game. Hanceville came away with the win, 24-8.
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