Westside football’s run game punishes Hephzibah en route to Region 4-AAA win
The Westside Patriots (4-0, 2-0) defeated the Hephzibah Rebels (1-3, 0-2,) 34-14, in an old-fashioned, run-heavy Region 4-AAA matchup Friday night at Hephzibah High School.
The Patriots advanced to a 4-0 record which is something they have not done since the 2002 season. They have also not defeated Hephzibah since defeating the Rebels 12-6 back in 2016.
The game featured two offenses that are known for keeping the ball on the ground.
Westside’ Jeanarion Kamga came into the game averaging 94 rushing yards per contest and continued that trend Friday night. On the other sideline, Hephzibah had two rushers averaging over 100 rushing yards a game in, JJ Gant (120 Y/G) and Reante Byrd (175 Y/G).
FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Check out all the final scores from across our Augusta-area coverage zone
First half summary
The Patriots struck first in the game after Senior Nick Smalls recovered a fumble on a Hepzibah screen pass. They capitalized on the good field position with a 5-yard touchdown run by junior, wide receiver JC Crawford to give the Patriots a 6-0 after the missed extra point by Shelton Freeman, with 6:17 left in the first quarter.
Penalties killed several Hephzibah drives on offense, including one set up when Rebels defender Christopher Kohn intercepted Westside quarterback Jaylen Stone’s pass intended for JC Crawford and returned it 50 yards to place the Rebels in scoring position to start the second quarter.
The Patriots’ defense stopped Hephzibah on a 4th down play near the red zone to keep the Rebels off the board.
That’s when Kamga went to work, capping his big rushing drive with a 10-yard touchdown, extending the Patriots’ lead to 14-0.
HARLEM HEROICS: The Bulldogs had to survive some late-game drama to pull this one off
The Rebels finally found the end zone just before halftime when a 45-yard run from quarterback JJ Gant set them up. Three plays later, Gant was able to punched in a 15-yard touchdown run to cut Westside’s lead to 14-7 at the break.
Second half summary
Another touchdown run from Grant on the first drive of the third quarter tied up the game at 14-14 with 4:46 remaining.
After Hephzibah fumbled a punt return attempt, Crawford helped Westside make good on the miscue by scoring his second rushing touchdown of the game on a 5-yard run to put Westside back in front 20-14 with 1:17 left in the third quarter.
Westside defensive line came up strong and stopped the push up the middle, forcing Hephzibah into a turnover on downs on a 4th-and-inches play.
On the very next play, Kamga took a 34-yard run to the end zone to extend the lead to 28-14 near the top of the fourth quarter
A 5-yard touchdown run by Kamga would provide the game’s final margin and push the senior tailback over 200 all-purpose yards on the night. Crawford’s two scores and pair of 2-point conversion runs aided the Patriots’ efforts.
Westside will test its undefeated record next Friday when it hosts Aquinas (2-1, 1-0). Meanwhile Hephzibah will face Howard at home next Friday. Howard (2-2) defeated Richmond Academy 29-13 in region play Friday night.
We’ll have more coverage from this game over the weekend.
