Payne Stancil threw four touchdown passes, including three to Andre Little, to lead West End High to a 41-7 victory over Lamar County last Friday (Nov. 4) in the first round of the Class 2A state football playoffs in Vernon.
The Patriots (6-5) host Lanett this week in the second round.
“It turned out to be the perfect storm,” said West End head coach Kyle Davis. “[Lamar County] couldn’t run and couldn’t throw it and they couldn’t stop us from running and throwing it. My defensive coaches did an outstanding job of putting our scouting reports together, and we saw that we could get some favorable matchups.
“I told our kids after the game that I was proud of them for not letting things bother us like [being] the No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed and a three-hour bus ride to get there. We came out ready to play.”
West End opened the scoring on Stancil’s touchdown pass to Little midway through the first quarter. The visitors then converted a Bulldog turnover into points when Stancil and Gage Lankford connected for a TD pass.
An interception by Hunter Moody led to Stancil’s 40-yard touchdown strike to Jordan Malin. Lamar County scored shortly before halftime to draw within 20-7.
The Patriots stretched their lead to 28-7 in the third quarter on Stancil’s 60-yard touchdown pass to Little.
“Lanett has a lot of speed, and we’re going to have some matchup problems,” said Davis. “Discipline is going to be a key for us to stay in the ball game. We have to have all 11 guys doing their job on every play.”
Since West End has not hosted a postseason game since 2001, Davis anticipates an electric atmosphere this week in Walnut Grove.
“Folks in Altoona and Walnut Grove want to see football played the way it’s supposed to be played – with a lot of pride and things done the right way. When it’s been so long since these two communities experienced something like this, I think it’s going to be a special night for us with all that support behind us.”
Patriots gun down Lamar County, will host in second round
