The Shadow
WAYNESBORO – For a second year in a row Alleghany cruised past Waynesboro following a 47-13 season opening non-district football victory on Friday night.
It was a great opening night performance from Des Jordan who found the end zone a total of five times. The junior quarterback was tough to solve all around with his arm and his legs. Jordan completed just under 70% of his passes (12-for-18) while throwing for 163 yards and two touchdown passes. The left-handed passer completed his first seven pass attempts.
While Jordan had his arm going, he was also trouble for the Little Giants in the ground attack as he rushed for 31-yds on seven attempts, but also found the end zone three different times throughout the game.
On the games first possession Alleghany drove down the field 63-yds on only four plays to put the first points on the scoreboard after Jordan connected with Sarge Persinger from 11-yds out.
The Cougars would go on to score twice more in the first period on their next two possessions. Hunter Knighton scored from 14-yds out on the teams second drive and Jordan scored the first of his three rushing TDs from a yard out to close out the quarter. AHS led 21-0 after the first.
In the second quarter both teams went scoreless. Alleghany had an opportunity to close out the half with a field goal, but Mason Hale missed from 41-yds out. Hale, however, was 5-of-6 on extra point attempts for AHS.
In our football preview that came out last week, we talked about how Jay Godfrey could be in for a breakout season after his two-interception sophomore season. Godfrey, now a junior, was a nightmare for the Waynesboro offense. It won’t go in the stat sheet, but Godfrey defended the pass well throughout the night he was on the field as he batted down several pass attempts and had a handful of tackles.
To open the second half the Cougars defense forced the Little Giants to turn the ball over on downs at their own 30-yd line. Four plays later AHS found the end zone on a Jordan shovel pass to AJ Godfrey from 14-yds out. Jordan would add his second rushing score with under three minutes remaining in the third quarter as AHS built a 35-0 lead.
Senior Xzavier Hayslett had been toying with Waynesboro in the return game throughout the night. Hayslett, who reeled in four receptions for 71-yds, finally broke free of a punt to open the fourth quarter and scored from 58-yds out.
With a 41-0 advantage Alleghany began taking out their starters. The Little Giants would eventually score twice in the fourth quarter. Haden Morris scored a rushing TD from 54-yds out, while Morris connected with Drachir Woodson on a 30-yd TD pass.
Jordan would seal the victory for good for the Cougars when he crossed the end zone for the fourth time as he rushed from 3-yds out for the score. AHS failed their two-point attempt but were comfortably up 47-13.
Helping set up several of the Cougars short touchdowns was Carter Nicely who was a workhorse in the backfield for AHS. Nicely rushed for 97-yds on only 10 attempts.
Morris finished the game 5-for-9 with 85-yds passing a TD pass. The junior quarterback also ran for 68-yds on four attempts. Ethan Newsome added 49-yds on 14 carries, while Woodson was the team’s leading receiver with three catches for 75-yds and a TD reception.
Alleghany (1-0) is back on the road on Friday against Fort Defiance (0-1). The Indians lost 28-7 to Turner Ashby last Friday.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
AHS – S. Persinger 11 pass from D. Jordan (M. Hale kick) – 10:29
AHS – H. Knighton 6 run (M. Hale kick) – 7:13
AHS – D. Jordan 1 run (M. Hale kick) – 0.25
Third Quarter
AHS – A. Godfrey 14 run (M. Hale kick) – 8:55
AHS – D. Jordan 5 run (M. Hale kick) – 2:39
Fourth Quarter
AHS – X. Hayslett 58 punt return (M. Hale kick no good) – 11:26
WHS – H. Morris 54 run (D. Woodson kick) – 9:45
WHS – D. Woodson 30 pass from H. Morris (2pt attempt failed) – 7:07
AHS – D. Jordan 3 run (2pt attempt failed) – 5:19
Individual Statistics
RUSHING – AHS: C. Nicely 9-92, A. Godfrey 2-51, D. Jordan 7-31, H. Knighton 2-27, G. Via 2-12, H. Nicely 2-1. WHS: H. Morris 4-68, E. Newsome 14-49, D. Woodson 1-9, S. Clark 1-9, C. Newsome 9-1. PASSING – D. Jordan 12-18-163, B. Griffith 0-2-0. WHS: H. Morris 5-9-85. RECEIVING – X. Hayslett 4-71, Ha. Knighton 4-52, A. Godfrey 1-14, S. Persinger 1-11, Hu. Knighton 1-9, J. Godfrey 1-4. WHS: D. Woodson 3-75, C. Williams 1-7, B. Miller 1-3.
