War Eagles beat Leon, 37-20
By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor
The Wakulla War Eagles started the season with a win over the Leon Lions on Thursday night, a 37-20 win on the road at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee;
“I’m very excited with the win,” said Head Coach Scott Klees. “A lot of young players started for the first time: on offense, there were seven new starters; and on defense, seven new starters.”
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Klees said that, as expected, there were a lot of mistakes, but every mistake is fixable.
There were some uncharacteristic fumbles, one deep in War Eagle territory that the defense bowed up and kept the Lions out of the end zone, forcing them to settle for a field goal.
The War Eagle defense played well except for a couple of blown coverages that allowed Leon to score.
“As the year goes on,” Klees said, the new starters “will get game experience – they just need reps.”
Still, the Leon Lions kept the game close until the War Eagles’ Andrew Nelson blocked a Lion punt and scooped and scored to put Wakulla up 28-13 late in the third quarter.
GAME STATS
Quarterback Owen Klees went 15 for 22 for 276 yards and four touchdowns.
Offensive Player of the Week Jeremiah Washington had 15 carries for 161 yards.
MVP Jordan Barnes had 5 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Defensive player of the weeek Andrew Nelson had 7 tackles and the blocked punt that he returned for a TD.
Linebacker Derek Davis had 8 tackles, a fumble recovery and a safety.
GAME RECAP
The game was a defensive battle to start, the two teams exchanging punts. Late in the 1st quarter, a Leon punt was downed at the Wakulla four yard line. On the War Eagles next play, quarterback Owen Klees dropped to pass, and while scrambling had the ball stripped, and it was recovered by the Lions at the 1.
The War Eagle defense kept the Lions out of the end zone and forced them to settle for a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, Jayden Jean had a return to the 30 and a penalty for horse collar tackle added 15 yards. Later, another 15 yard roughing the passing penalty helped the War Eagles. Then a wide receiver screen to Brandon Hayes and he took it 30 yards for a touchdown. Extra point makes it 7-3.
Next offensive series for the War Eagles, an 85-yard catch and run by Jordan Barnes for TD. Extra point makes it 14-3.
The War Eagles attempted an onside kick, but the ball doesn’t go 10 yards and rolls out of bounds, giving Leon great field position.
Leon took advantage with a long pass completion to the 1, then a short pass to the flat for a score. Extra point cuts Wakulla’s lead to 14-10.
The War Eagles settled down for a long drive and scored a touchdown. Extra point makes it 21-10.
But Leon capped a drive with a field goal as time expired for halftime to make it Wakulla 21, Leon 13.
In the third, Nelson blocked a punt and returned it for a score that sealed the win. Wakulla up 28-13.
To start the fourth, Leon scored with a touchdown pass to make it 28-20.
QB Klees connected with Jayden Jean for a 35-yard touchdown pass to go up 35-20.
A Leon fumble recovered by linebacker Derek Davis stops a Lion drive. The War Eagles drive inside the Leon 10 but can’t push it in. Go on fourth down and make it to the 1. Leon takes over and the Wakulla defense tackles the running back in the end zone for a safety.
Final: Wakulla 37, Leon 20.
UP NEXT: TAYLOR BULLDOGS
Wakulla comes home to J.D. Jones Stadium for the home opener against the Taylor County Bulldogs.
Taylor won last year, and Coach Klees says they’re very good this year – the defense flies to the ball, and the team is athletic.
“We’ll have to play our best game to win,” Klees said.
Coach’s Corner
Last week: First game of the season with lots of new starters meant mistakes were to be expected. Every mistake is fixable.
Scouting: Lost to the Bulldogs last year. And this year’s team has a couple of new players and is good. Their defense flies around to the ball, very athletic.
Key to victory; War Eagles need to play their best game to win.
2025 War Eagle schedule
- Thu, 8/21 at 7 pm at Gene Cox Stadium vs. Leon
- Fri, 8/29, at 7 pm vs. Taylor County at Wakulla High School
- Fri, 9/5 at 7 pm vs. Chiles at WHS
- Fri, 9/19 at 7 pm vs. FAMU DRS at WHS
- Fri, 9/26 at 7:30 pm at Live Oak vs. Suwannee*
- Fri, 10/3 at 7 pm at Fort Walton Beach
- Fri, 10/10 at 7 pm at Gene Cox vs. Godby*
- Fri, 10/17 at 7 pm at Santa Rosa Beach vs. South Walton
- Fri, 10/24 at 7 p.m. vs. Baker County* at WHS
- Fri, 10/31 at 7 pm vs. Gadsden County at WHS
2025 War Eagle JV schedule
- Wed, 8/20 at 7 pm at Madison County
- Thu, 8/28 at 7 p.m. vs Gadsden County at WHS
- Wed, 9/10 vsTBA Opponent
- Thu, 9/18 at 7 pm at Taylor County
- Wed, 9/24 at 6:30 p.m. at Chiles
- Thu, 10/2 at 7 pm vs Florida High School at WHS