Blue Devils Earn Big Win As They Improve Each Week
Senior quarterback Ty Varner (top photo) completed nine of 15 passes in the win over Coahoma AHS. – Photos by Leslie Brooks
By Mack Gordon
Sports Reporter
WATER VALLEY – The Blue Devils recorded an impressive 41-6 win over Coahoma AHS (1-8) as the team continues to improve each week this season.
The Blue Devils (6-3, 3-0 Region 2-3A) walked off the field after their season-opener with a 13-7 loss at Eupora, but head coach Brad Embry saw a lot of improvement in his team’s debut after the 2016 squad only had two wins.
After that first loss, the Blue Devils have only lost two games and appear to be posed for a deep run in the 3A playoffs.
The squad continued their impressive bounce back season last Friday night with a rout over Coahoma AHS 41-6 (1-8). The win kept the Blue Devils perfect in Region 2-3A play with two games remaining in the regular season.
Signal caller Ty Varner had a big night for Water Valley, finishing with 205 yards, completing nine of 15 passed and three touchdowns. Kenterrious Rucker also had another big game with 161 rushing yards with 16 carries with two touchdowns. Bud Tolbert had 126 receiving yards on five catches and hauled in two touchdowns.
Defensively the Blue Devils had multiple players with six-plus tackles on the night – Darius Tolbert, Jayvon Morgan, Keldrick Mcintosh and Grant Burress. The defense also had several players haul in interceptions as the Blue Devil secondary picked off five passes. Jayvon Morgan hauled in two and Keldrick Mcintosh, Darius Tolbert, and Martavius Rockett all had one interception on the night.
Defensive Coordinator, Jeff Roberts’ defense had one of their most complete performances of the season against Coahoma AHS.
The Blue Devils opened up the scoring with a 15 yard run by Martavius Rockett to take an early 7-0 lead over their division newcomers. On their next possession, Varner connected with the always reliable Jayvon Morgan on a 28-yard touchdown pass to extend their lead.
With the Blue Devil defense stifling the Coahoma offense, Varner and the offense took advantage and increased the lead with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Bud Tolbert. After taking a 20-point lead early in the first half, the Blue Devils never looked back as they put up 41 unanswered points in the first half.
Water Valley would not score in the second half, and Coahoma finally got on the board late in the third quarter as the Blue Devils ended the night with a 41-6 victory.
The win improved the Blue Devils to (6-3) on the season and (3-0) in Region 2-3A. Water Valley will put their perfect division record on the line as they travel to Independence Friday night to take on the Wildcats and former Blue Devils defensive coordinator Richard Russo, who is now the Independence Head Coach.
