Behind the hard-nosed running of Xzavier Green, Westside earned a 40-13 victory over visiting Josey on Friday, Oct. 1, at Carlton Thompson Field in prep football action.
Green, the senior running back, ran 29 times for 296 yards and four touchdowns for the host Patriots (4-2, 3-1).
However, it was Josey (1-4, 0-2) that opened the scoring after Westside fumbled away the opening kickoff. The Eagles, who recovered at the Patriots’ 30, took six plays to cover the 30 yards, as running back Corey Thomas scored on a 4-yard run. The successful PAT kick made it 7-0 in favor of the visitors.
The 5’8, 160-pound Green then got it in gear and scored twice to put Westside ahead for good, once on a 16-yard run with 7:02 left in the first quarter and then on a 1-yard run with 7:51 left in the second. Sean Medcalfe lined up the PAT kick both times for the Patriots.
Sandwiched in between those Patriot scores was a Jacorin Thomas 33-yard pass to Jamal Chase for a Josey touchdown with 2:22 left in the first period. The Eagle run failed.
Neither team could mount another effective drive the remainder of the first half.
Westside dominated the final 24 minutes. The Patriots opened the scoring with a nine-play, 57-yard drive capped by a 1-yard sneak by quarterback T.J. Price. Green ran six times for 52 yards on the drive. The kick was blocked for a 20-13 Patriot lead.
Green scored again on a 23-yard run up the middle with 11:55 left to play. Medcalfe added the PAT for a 27-13 Westside lead. Green’s electrifying run completed a nine-play, 84-yard drive.
Josey drove as far as the Patriot 8-yard line with eight minutes to go, but on fourth down, Jacorin Thomas had his pass dropped in the end zone.
Green finished off his outstanding night with a 32-yard touchdown run with 5:04 left. Medcalfe nailed the PAT kick. The Patriots got one more touchdown on a 15-yard run by Xavier Smith, but the kick was blocked for the final margin of victory. That TD was set up by a Josey fumble.
Corey Thomas led the Eagles with 111 yards on 16 carries.
Westside will play at Butler next Friday night, and Josey will host Oglethorpe County on the same night.
David and Viraj Bulla are sports contributors for The Augusta Press. Reach David at DBULLA@Augusta.edu.
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