The Washington Schools Generals improved to 7-1 with a decisive 38-14 victory over crosstown rivals St. Joe Fighting Irish (2-6) on Friday night.
Washington’s defensive physicality started to dictate the rest of the contest early in the second quarter as various home team defenders began tackling Irish ball carriers for a losses or minimal gains.
“Our defense put us in great position to score all night,” said Generals head coach Todd Lott. “We played complementary football and this is always a big game for each program and it goes back and forth every year.”
Washington caught the Irish defense off guard with a fake kick and direct snap to Jones Roberson who went untouched for a 23 -yard touchdown. The extra point pushed the Generals lead to 17-0 at the 5:25 mark of the second quarter.
In response, St. Joe quarterback Victor Baker found wide receiver Corey Holmes on a slant route which resulted in a 38-yard pitch and catch down to the Generals 14-yard line.
However, the drive ended as Jeremiah Smith broke through the Irish line to block a field goal attempt.
On the next play from scrimmage, Cashion Doolittle found Reed Henderson streaking wide open down field for a 42-yard touchdown reception. The extra point gave the Generals a 24-0 lead heading into the intermission.
Roberson scored on a 44-yard touchdown right up the middle on the Generals opening drive of the third quarter. The extra point gave the Generals a 31-0 lead with 10:00 remaining in the third quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Generals recovered the football after it glanced off the back of a St. Joe special teams player.
Ethan Bailey capped the two play drive with a 23-yard touchdown. The extra point gave Washington a 38-0 lead with 8:37remaining in the third quarter.
After scoring a touchdown early in the first quarter, Washington School had two first quarter touchdown runs overturned due to penalties.
Likewise, a penalty thwarted a potential touchdown pass to open the second quarter for the Generals offense.
Place kicker Rohan Thakere drilled a 30-yard field goal to break the drought of miscues taking points off the board. At the 10:33 mark of the second quarter, the Generals led 10-0.
“We’ve got a lot we need to cleanup,” Lott said.
Baker found Jaleel Moore in the back corner of the end zone as the third quarter expired for the one of the visitors’ two touchdowns
of the night.
Baker found Jayden Moore open down the left sideline for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
The Generals will travel to play West Memphis as St. Joe visits Carroll County on Friday.
“This one hurts but we are sitting pretty for the playoffs,” said Irish head coach John Baker. “This is a one sided loss but we’re playing out of district and get a lot of power points for this game. We’ve got two games left this season and both are must wins.”
Standings Washington
https://www.maxpreps.com/ms/greenville/washington-generals/football/standings/
Standings St. Joe
https://www.maxpreps.com/ms/greenville/st-joseph-fighting-irish/football/standings/
