His football team may have fallen 49-20 Friday night to Starkville Academy, but Washington School football coach Greg Wallace could not have been more proud of his players.
By the end of his team’s homecoming game Friday, Wallace was down to just 10 varsity players after losing a couple more to injury during the game, including wide receiver Peyton McPherson who injured his jaw and Joseph Smith who injured his knee.
“Our guys are warriors,” Wallace said. “Our ninth graders stepped up. We had two or three grow up and play very well. Noah Ashley played an incredible job on special teams, and Christian Britt played great on defense. They are Warriors, and they are doing everything they can, and I am proud to be there head coach.
“These kids love this program almost as much as they love each other, and we are going to get there.”
Despite their small numbers, the Generals (1-4) made a handful of splendid plays in their loss to the Volunteers (3-2) to show their potential.
Senior Von Epson got things rolling for Washington two minutes into the game by catching a screen pass from Smith and dashing 64 yards into the endzone. In the second quarter, Smith would run in a 75-yard touchdown to cut the Starkville Academy lead to 21-12 with 6:43 left until halfimte.
Smith finished the night with 124 yards rushing on 11 carries. He also completed eight passes for 135 yards.
A key fourth-down tackle by Washington’s Patrick Spencer on the Volunteer’s next possession would add to the Generals’ momentum, but Starkville Academy running back C.J. Jackson, who the Generals had trouble stopping all night, would run in one of his five touchdowns in the game to put the Volunteers up 28-12 at halftime.
In the opening stages of the third quarter a 49-yard run by Washington’s Kell Hodges would set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Smith to cut the Starkville Academy lead to 28-20.
But, the Volunteers’ Jackson would add on two more rushing touchdowns in the second half to put the game away.
After the game ended, Wallace added praise to even more of his players.
“Von Epson has grown up so much, and Kell Hodges is a beast. Our offensive line did great tonight as well. We started Harrison Garcia, who is a freshman, and he played great,” Wallace said.
The Generals are scheduled to travel to Leake Academy next Friday. Leake Aacdemy is in Madden, Mississippi.
