By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent
Lightning struck early and often on Shinbone Ridge on Friday (Oct. 10), as Gaston High rolled to a 49-20 victory over West End in Class 2A, Region 7 action.
The Bulldogs (4-3, 2-2) scored three plays into the game, on a 50-yard run by Jashun Cammeron.
On West End’s fourth play, Javonte Pope caught an interception that was deflected straight up into the air by a Patriot player. Three plays later, Pope scored on a 46-yard run.
The next West End possession ran into the same pattern. On the third play of the possession, Albert Douglas intercepted a pass, and four plays later, Mitchell Smith notched a 6-yard touchdown run.
“They were devoted to stopping Mitchell on the inside,” Bulldogs coach Swane Morris said. “That left the outside wide open for the rest of the guys. We needed to get up early so we could establish something. We were fortunate to get up as much as we did as quick as we did.”
West End (1-6, 0-5) then notched its first touchdown, on a 16-yard Hunter Grant rush.
However, lightning uncorked again – this time on the Bulldogs’ second play when Cammeron took it to the house on a 61-yard run.
Still in the first quarter, Gaston led 29-6 after Jordan Douglas picked up a botched snap and ran it in for the two-point conversion.
“We have trouble with first quarters,” Patriots coach Kyle Davis said. “It was the same old stuff, too. We had four turnovers and each led to a touchdown. And we got the ball inside the 5 twice without scoring. After the first quarter, we settled down and they outscored us 20-14.”
West End capped the scoring with 4:18 left in the game when Jordan Malin netted an 88-yard touchdown run.
Both teams continue region play next week. Gaston visits Collinsville and West End hosts Fyffe.