Junior High Blue Devils Earn Wins During Opening Games Against Pirates
Staff Report
COFFEEVILLE – On Tuesday, September 1, the Water Valley Junior High Blue Devils opened up their 2009 campaign in impressive fashion. They traveled the short distance to face their cross-county rivals, the Coffeeville Pirates. The 7th Grade Blue Devils started their football careers by defeating the Pirates 44-0.
The defense opened up the game and wasted no time forcing a quick three and out. The Blue Devils defense would hold strong throughout the contest and only allowed one first down all evening. Linebacker Dee McNeal led the team with five total tackles. Safety L.J. Hawkins also made a very impressive interception to close out the first half defensively. In the second half, Defensive Tackles Devontay Moore added a Fumble Recovery and Jeremy Rogers added a quarterback sack.
The offense was equally impressive on their way to posting 44 points. Running Back Elijah Rogers opened up the scoring with a 32-yard touchdown run and Quarterback Brandon Bounds added the two-point conversion. Running Back Deon Hilliard would go on to add two more first half touchdown runs. In the second half, the Blue Devil ground game continued to dominate as Bounds and Running Back Sherrod Rucker both added scoring runs and Fullback Warren Draper capped off the evening with a final two-point conversion.
Not to be outdone, the 8th Grade squad continued where their younger counterparts left off by defeating the Pirates 43-0. The offense took the field to start the game and wasted no time as Running Back Cortaveus Hawkins took the first play for a 70-yard Touchdown run. E.J. Bounds added the P.A.T. kick as the Blue Devils took a 7-0 early lead. Hawkins would finish the night with 177 yards rushing and three touchdowns as the offensive line led by Montez Hairston and Dimetrius Rainey opened up gaping holes. Quarterback E.J. Bounds also connected with Wide Receiver Ken Harris on a 59-yard Touchdown strike through the air. Bounds would add one more P.A.T. kick, one rushing touchdown, and two more two-point conversions on the night.
