WEST POINT – The Blue Devils of Mortimer Jordan were all over the West Point Warriors from the opening kickoff to the last play of the game, claiming a resounding 41-7 victory to drop West Point to 4-3 and 3-2 in region play.
From nearly blocked punts to fumbles near the goal line, the Warriors kept putting themselves in a hole for the entirety of the first half. It took less than 60 seconds for the Blue Devils to hit the scoreboard first, 7-0, over West Point.
The Warriors’ Rylan Jones completed a 60-yard pass to Skyler Bowers to give the West Point faithful hope. However, that was dashed just moments later as Jones fumbled just outside the end zone and the Blue Devils quickly recovered the ball.
The Blue Devils were forced to punt after making it 22 yards following the recovered fumble just minutes earlier. The Warrior defense began to put pressure on Mortimer Jordan and eventually forced a punt to take back possession at its 19-yard line.
Not even a minute ticked off the clock before West Point was forced into yet another three-and-out. A mid-range punt gave the Blue Devils possession inside West Point territory. Warrior Austin Dubberly brought a spark to the defense when he forced a long third-down attempt. This momentum did not last long following a short screen pass on the following play to back the Warriors into their own goal line.
Multiple penalties put the Blue Devils back to the 28-yard line, setting up a long third-and-26 attempt. The deep setback proved to be a disadvantage as the ensuing 42-yard field goal attempt fell short, giving the ball back to the Warriors with just a few ticks left in the first quarter.
The struggles continued into the second quarter as Brayden Martin fumbled the snap on the punt. The botched punt resulted in a first-and-goal from West Point’s 3-yard line. A quick run up the gut extended the lead to 14-0.
The following kickoff was fumbled as well as Anthony Woods attempted the catch, but he was able recover at the Warriors’ 11-yard line. Another quick three-and-out forced West Point to punt again which backed the Blue Devils to midfield. However, just two quick plays later Mortimer Jordan scored again, putting them comfortably ahead 21-0.
The Warriors’ Hunter Persall kept the team pushing forward on the next drive, though the Blue Devils had different plans as the Warriors were forced to punt yet again with just more than two minutes left in the half. Mortimer Jordan took over at its 12-yard line.
A couple quick plays and the Blue Devils exploded for a huge 92-yard touchdown to extend their lead to 27-0, following a missed extra point attempt, to end the first half of play.
The second half did not improve for the Warriors, as Mortimer Jordan took the kickoff to the house to increase the Blue Devil lead to 34-0. A fast three-and-out by the Warriors put the ball back in hands of the Blue Devils. A few short plays later, including a 40-yard pass play, Mortimer Jordan scored yet again to increase its lead to 41-0.
West Point was determined not to end the evening scoreless. With two consecutive fourth-down plays the Warriors finally broke through the Blue Devils’ defense as Martin carried the ball in for a 1-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 41-7.
Mortimer Jordan replied instantly with a 50-yard run deep into West Point territory. The Warrior defense stepped up to take over the ball on downs at its 8-yard line. West Point allowed the clock to run out as the Blue Devils took the region win, 41-7.
The Warriors will travel to Good Hope on Friday, Oct. 20.
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