Water Valley’s senior quarterback C.J. Telford launches a pass down the field to connect with Elijah White for a 70 yard touchdown. Telford made the same connection later in the game for 27-yard touchdown.
WATER VALLEY – The Blue Devils earned a win in the season opener at home last Friday against Independence, 47 – 26. A pair of explosive plays in the first half propelled Water Valley to a lead at halftime as Que Carothers marched 74 yards down the field on a punt return in the first possession of the game, and senior signal caller C.J. Telford connected with Elijah White on a 75 yard pass in the second quarter.
Telford also scored in the first quarter on a one-yard quarterback sneak and the Devils had a 21 – 14 lead when the second quarter ended.
The Wildcats picked up their first score of the game after a high snap forced punter Andrew Paysinger to fall on the ball, giving Independence a short field just outside the Red Zone. They scored two plays later, driving 21 yards to the goal line.
Independence scored again in the second quarter following a kickoff return that set them up just inside the 50 yard-line.
The slugfest continued in the second half as the Blue Devils scored four more touchdowns – a 32 yard run by Brayden Buford, a three yard run by Jayden Morgan in the third quarter. The final two touchdowns came as Telford completed a 12 yard pass to Sasa Freeman and a 27 yard pass to White.
The Wildcats put up two more touchdowns in the second half.
The Blue Devils will be back in action Friday night at Senatobia in the longest-running rivalry on the schedule. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
Que Carothers (above) weaves through traffic during a punt return for a 75 yard touchdown against Independence Friday night. The punt return came during the opening minutes of the game and was the first time the Blue Devils touched the ball in the 2022 season. Water Valley cheerleader Maggie Ward celebrates the score (right) as she runs down the sideline with the Blue Devil flag.
