WEST POINT, Ala. – The West Point Warriors were back home against another county rival Friday night, and they held off a late push from the Vinemont Eagles to improve to 2-1 with a 33-28 win.
The Eagles got the ball to begin the game but quickly went three and out, it didn’t take long for the Warriors to drive down the field to take an early 6-0 lead when Garit Roberson plunged in from 3 yards out. Three plays later Roberson got the ball back to the Warriors offense as he intercepted the pass. West Point quickly had the ball first and goal but back to back penalties backed them up to the 31 yard line but in the ensuing play Hunter Hensley found Brayden Monfort for a 31 yard touchdown to put the Warriors up 13-0 with 3:58 remaining in the opening quarter.
Vinemont went on an 18-play drive that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by Diego Rodriguez that cut the lead to 13-8 with 4:47 remaining until halftime. The Warriors quickly answered right back on a 12-yard run by Roberson to go ahead 21-8, with just seconds to go before halftime Vinemont cut the lead to 21-16 when Rush Sandlin found Kyler Pugh from 20 yard out.
The Warriors quickly scored to start the second half when Hensley found Eli Sims for a 42-yard touchdown to give the Warriors a 27-16 advantage. Midway through the third quarter a pass from Sandlin to Dawson Wilhite set the Eagles up first and goal from the one, on the next play Rodriguez capped off the drive with a touchdown to cut the lead to 27-22.
Late in the third quarter Hensley raced in from 23 yards to put the Warriors ahead 33-22. On Vinemont’s ensuing possession a fumble and a delay of game forced the Eagles to punt, however Vinemont’s Kyler Pugh intercepted the pass to give the ball back to the Eagles offense. Vinemont faced a fourth and long, but the drive continued thanks to a 12-yard completion from Sandlin to Pugh, three plays later Sandlin plunged in from 1 yard to cut the lead to33-28 with 2:23 remaining in the game. West Point recovered the onside kick attempt by the Eagles, four straight runs by Roberson ran out the clock to seal the victory for the Warriors.
West Point will be on the road next week to open up region play at Russellville and Vinemont will return home for a regional matchup against Brindlee Mountain.
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