2007 SWEETWATER

Photography by Jammie Graves 

By BRITTANY DAVIS

Sports correspondent

The Loudon Redskins took to the road Friday night to take on the Sweetwater Wildcats.

The game started out with a lack luster first half with Sweetwater leading 7-6 at the half, but the second half of the game saw a total turn around with Loudon out doing the Wildcats in every aspect of the game.

Loudon picked up its first 2A win of the season 30-13 over Sweetwater.

The first quarter saw each team trading out possessions and it wasn’t until the second quarter that each offense found pay dirt.

On its first offensive series of the game, Loudon’s first pass was picked off by Sweetwater’s Chris Johnkins.  The Redskin defense stepped up and kept the Wildcats in check by making Sweetwater punt.

After that the action was back and forth, but neither team was able to score.

The Wildcats were the first to put points on the board.  They got the ball on their own 40-yard line with 2:25 left to go in the first quarter.  Mitchell Ferguson and Craig Latham saw the first carries of Sweetwater’s possession.  The Wildcats got the ball down to the 13-yard line with Latham picking up the first down.  Latham got the call again to take the ball down to the seven.  Then, on second and four, Tyler Richesin found Johnkins for the TD.  Ross Houston’s point after was good and with 10:50 to go in the second quarter Sweetwater had the lead, 7-0.

On Loudon’s next series, the Redskins had two very costly penalties giving them a first and 37.  The Redskins never recovered the yardage and had to punt.

The defense for Loudon stepped up again, though, and was able to cause a Wildcat fumble that Aaron Anderson picked up and took to the Sweetwater 32.

From there the offense found a rhythm with D’Andre Miley, who paved the way for Tyler Campbell’s five-yard TD.  The PAT was no good, but the Redskins cut the lead to one at 7-6 to end the quarter.

The Redskins came out in the third quarter with a new swagger as, on their first possession of the quarter, Blake McNew found Grant Gasper for a 55-yard touchdown.  Carlos Espinoza added the extra point to give Loudon the lead, 13-7.

Each team fumbled in the next two offensive series, but Sweetwater was able to hang on to Loudon’s fumble.  In the end Lantham took it 58 yards to pay dirt.  The PAT was no good and the game was tied at 13.

That was enough for the Redskins as, on the kickoff, Campbell took off from the 20 and went 80 yards for the score.  Espinoza once again connected on the point after and Loudon was up 20-13.

With the lead, the Redskin special teams hit the field for the kickoff, Sweetwater muffed the kick and Loudon recovered at the Wildcat 33.

Miley got the call on first down and went 23 yards for first and goal.  Loudon couldn’t punch it in for the touchdown, but Espinoza hit a 21-yard field goal to put more points on the board for the Redskins.  They were up 23-13 heading into the fourth quarter.

Neither team was able to get going to start the fourth, but Loudon was the first to score at the 6:17 mark with Matthew Wallace returning an interception 55 yards for the TD.  Espinoza added the point after and the Redskins had the lead 30-13.

Sweetwater had one more opportunity to try to add points to the board, but the all ended when Gasper got an interception to close out any Wildcat threat.

The Redskins ran out the clock and got their first region win 30-13 over Sweetwater. The Redskins were led by Miley with 105 yards on 13 rushes.  McNew went three of six for 62 yards with one INT.

The Redskins (4-1, 1-1) have a bye week Friday before traveling to Rockwood