War Eagles show team speed against Madison Cowboys

Varsity was down 28-22 in a half marred by turnovers; but second string and JV played well in second half to go up 35-28

Quarterback Haden Klees scrambles out of the backfield.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor

The Wakulla War Eagles varsity showed team speed but were down 28-22 to Madison in the first half.
The varsity played the first half, then second-string guys played the third quarter, and JV played the fourth quarter.
Head Coach Scott Klees was pleased that all 90 kids in the football program got some playing time.
There were mistakes, as is to be expected early in the season. The varsity had three turnovers – including a fumble and an interception that were returned for scores.
“You can’t turn over the ball,” Klees said. “We had some late snaps, some bad route running at times.
“We see what needs to be fixed,” the coach said, “and we’ll see how much we can improve over this next week.”
The first play of the game was a 75-yard kickoff return by Nehemiah Chandler.
Madison and Wakulla exchanged punts, then on the next series a Madison pass was intercepted by Jeremiah Thomas and was returned to midfield. Next play: quarterback Haden Klees connects with receiver Delvon Zanders for a perfect pass for a touchdown to put Wakulla up 14-0.
But the Cowboys are tough, and they came back with a quick drive and scored a touchdown on a sweep play. They went for 2 and scored to make it 14-8.
At the start of the second quarter, Klees was scrambling and had the ball knocked loose – it was recovered by a Cowboy defender for a scoop and score. Again, the Cowboys went for 2 and made it to take a 16-14 lead.
On the next series, War Eagle receiver Samron Brinson caught his first pass of the game and showed how quick and elusive he is, dodging defenders and breaking tackles until he was finally taken down on the Cowboy 11. Unfortunately, a couple of plays later a fumble gives the Cowboys the ball at the 5.
On the War Eagles’ next offensive series, a pass on the sideline was picked off and returned for a touchdown. (Coach Klees said the receiver was supposed to run an out pattern and instead went up.) Cowboys again went for 2, but the attempt was no good. Madison up 22-14.
The Cowboys tried a squib kick and it was picked up by Samron Brinson and returned  for a touchdown. The War Eagles went for 2 and made it to tie the game at 22 all.
Klees praised the kick-off returns by Chandler and Brinson, saying they were great runs, but he also praised other members of the special teams unit for the great blocking that set up the runs.
But minutes later, the Cowboys scored on a 75-yard run to put them back on top. Went for 2 but didn’t make it.
Halftime score was 28-22.
Seconds came in for the third quarter: Backup quarterback Owen Klees threw a 15 yard touchdown pass. War Eagles went for 2 but didn’t make it. Score tied at 28 all.
In the fourth, the JV teams played and the War Eagles scored again to go up 35-28 over the Cowboys.