WCHS routs Panthers 44-16

HACKLEBURG - Hackleburg suffered a 44-16 loss to Class 2A Winston County on Friday, Aug. 23, at Ray Stadium in Hackleburg.
The Panthers trailed 14-8 at halftime before the Yellow Jackets outscored Hackleburg 30-8 in the second half.
The Yellow Jackets struck first with William Owens scoring from four yards out. A failed 2-point try gave Winston County a 6-0 advantage with 4:57 left in the first quarter.
The Panthers responded on the ensuing possession with quarterback Caden Jones finding wide receiver Josh Copper for an 11-yard scoring strike. Jones rushed in the 2-point conversion to take an 8-6 lead with 1:37 left in the first quarter.
The two teams traded possessions in the second half before Winston County's Owens scampered in with an 8-yard touchdown. Quarterback Brooks Bonds ran in the 2-point try to give the Yellow Jackets a 14-8 lead with 1:02 remaining in the first half.
Following halftime, Winston County wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, needing just over three minutes. Owens scored on a 49-yard run before he added the 2-point conversion on a run. The Yellow Jackets held a 22-8 lead with 8:57 left in the third quarter.
After recovering an onside kick, Winston County needed just over two minutes to see Owens score his fourth touchdown of the contest on a four-yard rush. Owens added the 2-point conversion to extend the Yellow Jackets’ lead to 30-8 with 6:12 left in the third quarter.
A Panther interception set Winston County up for its next scoring drive. Bonds scored from 12 yards out and Owens added the 2-point conversion to give the Yellow Jackets a 38-8 advantage with 10 minutes to go in the game.
Winston County added a late-score with a 14-yard touchdown by Robert Edgil. A failed 2-point try gave the Yellow Jackets a 44-8 lead with 2:23 remaining in the contest.
The Panther offense scored for the second time in the game with 32 seconds left when Jones rushed in from a yard away. Ethan Heggy added the 2-point conversion to make the final score of 44-16, Winston County.
Hackleburg's offense compiled 165 total yards--66 rushing yards and 95 yards through the air.
Jones completed 9-of-15 pass attempts for 95 yards and a touchdown. He also had two interceptions and 17 carries for 28 yards and a score.
Heggy had 36 rushing yards on five carries and a 19-yard reception. Josh Cooper had an 18-yard rush and three catches for 34 yards.
Daniel Cooper had two receptions for 36 yards while Joe Carter added two catches for six yards.
Winston County compiled 386 total yards--377 rushing and nine passing.
Bonds completed 2-of-5 pass attempts for nine yards and added 129 rushing yards and a score on 20 runs.
Owens had 199 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries. He also had a 13-yard catch. Edgil needed four touches for 29 yards and a score. Trey Williamson added five runs for 20 yards and a reception for a loss of four yards.
Hackleburg's Jeitt Traywick finished with 17 tackles while Heggy added 11 tackles. Carson Swinney and Josh Cooper added 10 tackles apiece. Tyler Montgomery and Jones had six stops each.
Daniel Cooper, Gavin Pyburn, Noah McCarley and Jacob Rector collected five tackles apiece. Carter had three stops.
The Panthers are set to host Marion County in the first county clash of the year on Friday, Aug. 30, at Ray Stadium.
Hackleburg trails the Red Raiders in the all-time series 45-31-3, including a 28-6 loss last season.  
Winston County will host Meek in a county matchup on Friday, Aug. 30. Kickoff for both contests are set for 7 p.m.
Despite losing last year's contest against Meek 14-13, Winston County has a commanding 48-13-5 advantage in the all-time series.