Laney employed a dominant rushing attack and a greedy defense to top Hephzibah 26-17 on the road Friday and start the season 2-0. The Wildcats rushed for 219 yards and 4 touchdowns on the while consistently lining up in the wishbone formation and pushing Hephzibah’s defensive front down the field with nine blockers.
Junior CJ Holmes, who came into the season known as one of the area’s best wide receivers, lined up at running back on almost every play and led Laney with 125 yards rushing. When Hephzibah took its first and only lead of the game with six minutes remaining in the second quarter after a 22-yard field goal by Telly Johnson, Laney turned to Holmes, who delivered immediately.
With the drive starting at Laney’s own 35-yard line, Holmes ran the ball four consecutive times, including a 50-yard touchdown scamper that gave the Wildcats a 14-9 lead with 3:51 left in the second quarter.
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Holmes’s sidekick deep in the wishbone, the 5-foot-11-inch tall and 240-pound sophomore James Pride, also excelled running the ball to the tune of 71 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Pride consistently barreled through the heart of Hephzibah’s interior. The burly back rushed straight up the middle and through a crowd for 38 yards to Hephzibah’s two on his first run from scrimmage. The play served as an announcement that Laney’s offensive line meant business. The run came on Laney’s first offensive play, and Pride scored a two-yard touchdown on the next snap.
That drive put Laney ahead 8-0, and it was made possible because of an interception by Jayden Shaw on Hephzibah’s first series. The pick was one of five turnovers Laney’s defense created, and three of those takeaways led to touchdowns for the Wildcats. One such play that was particularly timely for the visiting team came from the hands of senior defensive back Daryus Moore.
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With the momentum appearing to have swung in Hephzibah’s favor after a 55-yard Telly Johnson touchdown on the final play of the first half, Moore intercepted Jalen Patrick’s pass over the middle early in the third quarter to give the Wildcats the ball near midfield. Then after a couple running plays went nowhere for the Wildcats, senior quarterback Keshaun Sanders connected with Moore for a 15-yard completion on third-and-11 to keep the drive alive. Several punishing rushes later, Pride scored a one-yard touchdown and made the score 26-17.
Hephzibah’s offense had success when it was able to protect the football. Senior quarterback Jalen Patrick passed for 147 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another 83 yards. Telly Johnson rushed for another 79 yards, with 55 coming on the final play of the second quarter. Having just given up a touchdown to Laney with 10 seconds left in the quarter, Hephzibah appeared to be content with running out the clock on the final play of the half. Johnson had other plans. The junior took a handoff and proceeded to run around and through most of Laney’s defenders on his way to the end zone for a score that reduced Laney’s halftime lead to 20-17.
Chad Cook has covered sports for several years under AugBball. Follow him on Instagram @AugBBall
