Blue Devils fall to War Eagles 28-14 in Friday’s match up

Published 11:43 pm Friday, September 29, 2017

Friday night Pearl River Central Blue Devils fans saw a growing team that gave the Wayne County War Eagles a run for their money late in the game.

It almost came down to a seven point game, but the Devil’s drives came too late in the game.

The first half was a slow start for the Devils. By halftime, the Devils were down 28-6 due to a four-yard touchdown run by War Eagles’ quarterback Joshua Page early in the first quarter, an eight yard touchdown run by middle linebacker Perionta Norsworthy in the first quarter, a stunning 85-yard touchdown by wide receiver Demetrius Harris Jr. and finally a one yard touchdown run by Page late in the second quarter. War Eagles kicker Colton Neff connected on all of his extra point attempts on the night. But the scores in the first half of the game would be the last time the War Eagles would reach pay dirt that night.

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The Devils put points on the board before the end of the first half when running back Kalvin Briggs toted the ball three yards across the end zone midway through the second quarter. A failed attempt at a two-point conversion followed, leaving the score at 28-6 going into the half.

The second half is where the Blue Devils displayed the talent they possess. Defensive strikes caused key turnovers just when another War Eagles touchdown was just inches within reach.

Briggs was able to capitalize on that momentum late in the third quarter when he closed the two-yard gap for a touchdown. A two-point conversion involving a successful pass from Devils quarterback Cameron Brunson to free safety Tristan Anderson brought the Devils to 28-14, with 2:25 left in the third quarter.

“He threw the ball well,” Blue Devils’ Head Coach Larry Dolan said of his quarterback. “He’s a freshman but we got him growing up early. I think his best years are in front of him.”

That would be the last time the Devils would cross the end zone, but the defense and offense made several attempts to capitalize on miscues from the War Eagles to further close the gap. There just wasn’t enough time left in the game. 

Dolan said he was proud of his team’s performance Friday.

However, Dolan said he noticed a number of missed opportunities in Friday’s game. Defensively, he feels the team needs to improve and offensively the team needs to capitalize on and produce more of the big drives seen Friday.

“Every time we touch it we got to have drives like those two big drives we had tonight,” Dolan said. “Our offense has got to be our best defense down the road.”

Next week the team will host Hattiesburg for the Devils’ Homecoming game. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.