Call it a pivotal game or a swing game for the Scott Skyhawks and the Westside Renegades. Just say that both teams were looking to make a statement in regards to a winning season and take a step toward the Class AA playoffs.
Clinging to a 7-6 lead after one quarter, the Skyhawks erupted for three second-quarter touchdowns and added a trio of second-half scores on their way to posting a 50-20 romp.
The ‘Hawks, seeking a sixth consecutive trip to the postseason, issued a grid statement, and the Renegades painfully received the message.
After senior Ryan Price and sophomore Jacob Blosser combined for a key tackle for loss to help force an early Westside punt, the Scott offense pieced together a 40-yard scoring drive.
A 14-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Nevin Honeycutt to senior receiver Shayne Butcher and a 12-yard run by senior running back Drew Runyan sustained the drive and Runyan tallied on a three-yard run to cap the drive. Matt Berry’s extra point set the score at 7-0 with 6:25 remaining in the first quarter.
Westside answered late in the first quarter, intercepting a ‘Hawk pass to set up a 9-yard scoring run by Nick Lambert. The two-point pass attempt failed, as Scott took a 7-6 lead into the second period.
Runyan set up the next Scott score with a 34-yard run before Honeycutt and Butcher connected for a 22-yard touchdown pass. Runyan added the two-point run as Scott grabbed a 15-6 advantage early in the second quarter.
Powered by staunch defensive play from Eric Price, Aaron Thompson, Brandon Booth, Tyler Thompson and Ryan Price, the Skyhawks forced another Westside punt to set up a 46-yard scoring march.
Two runs by Runyan (16 and eight yards) then helped set up a seven-yard touchdown run by junior fullback Travis Bender. Berry’s extra point pushed the Scott lead to 22-6 with 7:17 left to play in the second period.
The Skyhawks stretched the lead to 29-6 late in the second stanza on a two-yard touchdown run by Bender after a 13-yard run by Honeycutt had carried the Scott offense inside the Westside 5-yard line.
Honeycutt and Butcher teamed up for a 17-yard touchdown on a middle screen pass with 4:44 showing on the third period clock and Berry’s extra point moved the score to 36-12.
After Westside had scored on a 48-yard pass play from Eric Bailey to Nick Lambert, Honeycutt and Butcher connected on the middle screen pass for a 39-yard touchdown in the final seconds of the third stanza. Berry’s extra point sent the ‘Hawks into the fourth frame with a 43-12 lead.
Early in the final frame, Shane Fletcher finished the Skyhawk scoring assault with a six-yard touchdown run. Completing a perfect 6-for-6 effort, Berry added the extra point for a 50-12 lead.
Westside added a late score to set the final tally at 50-20.
“We really dominated this game defensively," Scott head coach Shane Griffith said. "We held Westside to 83 total yards, including just two yards net rushing, and we recorded 14 tackles for loss. Our defensive line and linebackers got to the football and gang-tackled very well.
“Eric Price had five tackles for loss and our d-line (Tyler Thompson, Ryan Price, Aaron Thompson and Brandon Booth) was in on 27 assisted tackles. At linebacker, Jacob Blosser had five solo tackles, and Travis Bender and Brett Lambert each had four. Together, they were in on 12 assisted tackles. One reason why our front eight were able to get to the football and tackle so well is that Kameron Akers, Drew Runyan and Shayne Butcher covered a great deal of ground in the secondary.”
Offensively, Runyan rushed 18 times for 136 yards with one touchdown and one two-point run. Bender added 26 yards on six runs and scored two touchdowns. Honeycutt ran seven times for 40 yards and completed 8-of-14 passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns. Butcher had five receptions for 103 yards and three touchdowns. Tyler Thompson had three catches for 20 yards.
“Nevin Honeycutt played well as a young quarterback," Griffith said. "He is maturing and beginning to show what type of threat that he can be as a passer and a runner. Drew Runyan has proved that he can play several different positions for us, and tonight he proved to be a good tailback. Shayne Butcher gives us a weapon on the perimeter as a receiver, and our o-line was really solid in allowing our offense to roll up 331 total yards and 208 yards rushing.
“We talked last week about our program’s tradition of bouncing back from a loss and getting back up after we get knocked down. Our players fed off of that tradition against Westside. We still have three or four main contributors out with injuries, but players like Eric Price, Brett Lambert and Drew Runyan have stepped into new roles and allowed us to keep going. Also, Matt Berry has done an outstanding job kicking extra points and accurately placing our kickoffs. He has been a key in the battle for field position.”
Scott (3-1) will host James Monroe (2-1) on Friday for the Skyhawks' 2008 Homecoming.
James Monroe has posted wins over PikeView and Oak Hill after a season-opening loss to Wayne.
"Hosting a team like James Monroe for Homecoming should certainly create a very special atmosphere for our fans and our team," Griffith said. "James Monroe has a very experienced team that is led by players who have made several deep runs into the AA playoffs. They lost the AA title game to Bluefield last season.”
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