War Eagles beat Mosley, 45-21

War Eagle Jeremiah Thomas catches a pass and takes it to the end zone against the Mosley Dolphins.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

It was a tough game – travel to Panama City, a nearly two-hour long weather delay, and then the War Eagles were down 14-0 to a good Mosley Dolphins team.
By the end of the game – it was nearly 1 a.m. eastern time – the War Eagles had shown how explosive they are and notched a win, 45-21. (The score could have even higher except for dropped passes, including one in the 4th quarter when the seconds were playing.)
“They didn’t give up,” said Head Coach Scott Klees. “I’m just proud of the way our kids overcame adversity.”
This was a Mosley team that had beaten Wakulla last year. But the players didn’t hang their heads, Klees said.  
“They didn’t flinch.”

GAME RECAP

The two teams exchanged punts on their first offensive possessions. Then Mosley scores first after a long quarterback run to the 2 and then an off-tackle run to punch it in. Extra point good. Dolphins up 7-0 on War Eagles with 6:10 left in 1Q.
War Eagles can’t convert a 4th and 6 at Mosley 45 and turn the ball over on downs. That sets up another long QB run for Mosley - this one for 52 yards and a touchdown. Dolphins lead 14-0 over Wakulla with 1:52 in 1Q.
War Eagles strike back with a bomb from QB Haden Klees to speedster Del Zanders covering about 70 yards and Wakulla cuts the lead to 14-7 with 16 seconds in the first.
Receiver Samron Brinson makes a great diving catch, nice run by Jeremiah Thomas to the 3 and then Klees connects with Zanders in the back of the endzone. Penalty on extra point by the Dolphins for simulating the snap count puts ball at the 1 and Coach Klees decides to go for 2 - it’s no good.
QB Klees flips the ball to receiver Nehemiah Chandler on a reverse and he throws downfield to a wide open Samron Brinson for an 83-yard play for a touchdown and Wakulla’s first lead: 20-14.
Wakulla blocks a Mosley punt. A 15-yard personal foul by Dolphins puts the ball at the 17. That sets up another touchdown pass from Klees and Zanders. Go for 2 and Jeremiah Thomas takes it in.  Wakulla up 28-14 over Mosley with 1:56 to halftime.
Mosley scores TD on a pass play and cut Wakulla’s lead - it’s 28-21 with 44 seconds until half.
Wakulla kicker Luis Quintonilla adds a 36-yard field goal as time expires for halftime to make the score Wakulla 31, Mosley 21.
On Mosley’s second half possession, Del Zanders picks off a Mosley pass at the Dolphin 19 and Wakulla is in the red zone. A few plays later, Klees throws a swing pass to Jeremiah Thomas who takes it 15 yards for the score. Extra point puts Wakulla up 38-21 over Mosley with 6:50 left in 3Q.
On Mosley’s next possession, Mosley runner, fighting for extra yards, gets the ball knocked out at midfield, Wakulla recovers. Then Another touchdown pass from Klees to Samron Brinson to put Wakulla up 45-21 with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.
Wakulla’s second string mostly played the fourth quarter and went scoreless.
Final: Wakulla

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

The overall player of the week was receiver Del Zanders who had 7 catches for 113 yards and three touchdowns, and had an interception on defense.
Kohl Pippin was the offensive player of the week with the lineman grading out at 88%.
Linebacker Herschel Blackmon was defensive player of the week with 8 tackles, a sack, and a blocked punt.
Kicker Luis Quintonilla was special teams player after kicking a 37-yard field goal and four extra points.
Other notable players in Thursday night’s game included Samron Brinson, who had 8 catches for 198 yards.
Jeremiah Thomas, a receiver who moved to running back to cover for a sick Bradley Kelly, had 10 carries for 84 yards and a 2-point play, plus 5 catches for 55 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Haden Klees went 26 for 40 passing for 347 yards and 5 touchdowns. His numbers would have been even gaudier if not for 9 dropped passes.
Nehemiah Chandler was assigned to cover Mosley’s best receiver and didn’t allow a catch. Plus, he threw a touchdown pass on a trick play to Samron Brinson.

NEXT UP: RICKARDS

The War Eagles go to Tallahassee this week to play the Rickards Raiders.
“Man, they’re just so athletic,” says Coach Klees. They’ve got a running back who might be the best running back in the area. And they’re gigantic on both sides of the ball.
“Defense is their strength,” he adds, noting that “They have an outside linebacker who is a commit to Georgia.”  

 

COACH'S CORNER

Wakulla Head Football Coach Scott Klees

FROM THE COACH

Last week: War Eagles showed character in the face of adversity and overcame obstacles.  
Scouting report: Rickards is big and athletic. A running back who needs to be contained. They have a strong defense: their outside linebacker is Georgia commit.
Keys to victory: Focus. No silly turnovers or silly penalties.