CERRO GORDO — West Bladen got out of the gate quickly on Friday with 21 unanswered points, then slammed the gate shut with 32 second-half points for a 53-24 non-conference win over West Columbus.
The win moves the Knights to 2-0, while the Vikings fall to 0-2.
West Bladen got on the board first when a seven-play drive went 89 yards and culminated with a 12-yard touchdown run by James Moore with 7 minutes left in the first quarter. Ry Jones booted the PAT for a 7-0 Knights lead.
Moore put the ball into the end zone again on the Knights’ next possession with a 24-yard run, but the two-point conversion failed, keeping West Bladen’s lead at 13-0.
Moments later, a poor snap on a punt for the Vikings gave the ball to West Bladen at the West Columbus 5, and Malique McDowell took the ball in from there. On the two-point attempt, the Knights were penalized and West Bladen coach Russell Dove stuck with the two-point effort — which was converted with a 23-yard run by De’quan Lennon for a 21-0 West Bladen advantage.
West Columbus got on the board before the quarter ended and added a two-point try to cut the deficit to 21-8.
The Vikings scored again after recovering a West Bladen fumble, then added another two-point try to pull within 21-16 at halftime.
But the second half was all West Bladen.
McDowell scored on a 48-yard run in the third quarter and Hunter Prevatte pulled in a pass from quarterback Stefon McDonald on the two-point conversion to give the Knights a 29-16 edge.
Moments later, McDowell scored again, this time on an 18-yard run and, despite the extra point getting blocked, West Bladen extended its lead to 35-16.
The Vikings managed to get on the board late in the third quarter on a 62-yard run and added their third two-point conversion to slice the Knights’ lead to 35-24.
But West Bladen would put 18 points on the board in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
The first score came when Moore punched in a 3-yard touchdown early in the period. The point after was blocked, but the Knights’ lead was 41-24.
Moments later, West Bladen got a 5-yard touchdown run by McDowell and, when the two-point try failed, the lead stood at 47-24.
West Bladen iced the game late in the game when B.J. Drake scored on a 3-yard run to finalize the 29-point win.
The Vikings’ touchdown was the first given up by the Knights this season. West Bladen has outscored its two opponents by a 99-8 margin.
McDowell led the Knights with 185 yards and three touchdowns rushing on 20 carries, while Moore also scored three touchdowns and ran for 128 yards on 12 carries. Lennon was the third West Bladen rusher to eclipse the 100-yard mark when he carried nine times for 110 yards.