Wayne County beats PRC 53-41 in shootout
Pearl River Central lost a shootout with the Wayne County War Eagles 53-41 at War Eagle Stadium in Waynesboro. PRC had the ball for over 35 minutes of the game and tallied 28 first downs to Wayne County’s 18, but it was the War Eagles’ big plays that allowed them to hold off PRC.
Wayne County scored first when quarterback ZhaKerreun Wesley raced 62 yards for a touchdown to make it 6-0 with 7:17 left in the first quarter.
The Blue Devils responded immediately, taking the ensuing kickoff and marching 91 yards in five plays, scoring on a 4-yard run by Ryan Spradley. A 43-yard pass play from Cameron Brunson to D.J. Ruff help set up the score that gave PRC a 7-6 lead with 4:18 left in the first after Sam Lambert’s point after.
On PRC’s next possession, Kobe Whitehead broke free for a 69-yard run to give the Blue Devils a 14-6 lead with 27 seconds left in the period after Lambert’s extra point.
The War Eagles responded promptly going 52 yards in four plays, scoring on an 18-yard touchdown run from Raytavious Walker to make it 14-12 with 11:51 left in the first half.
After PRC punted for the first time of the night on the next series and Wayne County scored on their second play of the possession on a 35-yard run by Shadamien Williamson to take its first lead of the night at 19-14 with 9:49 left.
The Blue Devils responded quickly needing just three plays before scoring on a 36-yard run by Ryan Spradley. Spradley added the two-point conversion to make it 22-19 with 8:35 remaining.
Wayne County took the lead and expanded that lead when Wesley hit Brevin Gandy with a 34-yard touchdown pass and then one series later Wesley hit Gandy with a 73-yard touchdown pass to make it 33-22 with 3:16 remaining in the half.
The Blue Devils took the second half kickoff and drove 75 yards in 10 plays with Whitehead scoring on a 1-yard run to make it 33-28 Wayne County with 5:51 left in the third quarter.
The War Eagles answered on a Wesley 12-yard touchdown run and the point after made it 40-28 with 2:46 left in the quarter.
PRC then drove 61 yards in 11 plays and got another 1-yard touchdown from Whitehead to pull within 40-35 with 8:15 left in the game.
Wayne County needed took four plays and just over a minute to answer the PRC score as Walker scored on a 9-yard run to make it 46-35 with 7:06 remaining.
PRC then put together a 73-yard, 12-play drive, scoring on a 12-yard run by Whitehead to make it 46-41 with 3:36 left.
The War Eagles’ Walker completed the scoring on a 44 yard touchdown run to make it 53-41 after the extra point.
Kobe Whitehead, Ronald Murray, Ryan Spradley
The Blue Devils (2-4, 1-1) rushed for 472 yards on 68 carries and added another 111 yards passing. Whitehead had 214 yards on 30 carries and Ronald Murray had 127 yards on 14 carries. Spradley added 123 yards on 11 carries.
Pearl River Central travels to play Hattiesburg on Friday. Live game audio is available on the WRJW smart phone app and wrjwradio.com.
