Blue Devils Grind Out Region Win
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Staff Report
MARKS – The Water Valley Blue Devils grinded out a Region 2-2A Victory over the homesteading Dragons of M.S. Palmer in Mark on Friday, October 18, to the tune of 27 to 12. The Blue Devils, winners of four of the last five contests against Palmer, set themselves up to play for the Region Championship since they are (1-0) in MHSAA Region 2-2A.
Defensive back Derion Gale looks for running room after intercepting a pass.
It appeared as though the Devils were coming out firing on all cylinders. After a failed surprise onside kick attempt, the Blue Devil self-proclaimed “Wrecking Crew” defense forced a quick three-and-out for the Dragons. The Blue Devil offense meticulously matriculated down the field by steady running by quarterback Zae Bradford and running back Tre Adams. Reserve running Back Miles Bufford came in and quickly made his presence known with a 33-yard touchdown run.
After an offsides penalty by the Dragons, Water Valley Head Coach Clint Faust elected to go for two. Senior Lineman Donalvin Wilson took the speed sweep around right end for the Two-Point Conversion.
After a series of miscues and an untimely unnecessary roughness penalty on third down, the Blue Devil defense surrendered their first points on a third-and-long pass play over the middle. They held strong on the M.S. Palmer two-point try to maintain an eight to six lead.
In the second quarter, Adams was able to break through the Dragon defense for a 19-Yard Rushing touchdown behind the offensive line of Tyler Richardson, Parker Turnage, Ja’Cameron Elmore, Donalvin Wilson, Hayden Schurr, Ezaryon Riley, and Jake Griffin.
The offensive line, who has been getting better and better this season under Coach Faust’s tutelage, has helped the Blue Devils rush for more than 300-yards in five of the previous six games. Placekicker Gabe Butler added the Point After Touchdown.
Donalvin Wilson and JD Gooch bring down a Dragons’ running back.
The Dragons would not go away as on the ensuing drive they hit a wideout for another 29-yard touchdown pass. Thanks to an unsportsmanlike penalty, the Blue Devil defense stopped their two-point attempt just shy of the end zone.
With only a few moments left in the half, Offensive Coordinator Coach Rusty Smith reached into his bag of tricks and called a halfback pass where Adams hit Butler for 42-Yards and what seemed to be a touchdown, fell short. The Blue Devils would reach the end zone twice on this drive before being turned away due to self-inflicted penalties. They had to settle for a 26-yard Butler field goal out of the snap of Alex Spruill and hold of Richardson as time expired to put the Devils up 18 to 12 at the midway point.
The Blue Devils wasted no time recapturing momentum coming in from halftime as Bradford rushed up the middle for a 75-scoring strike. The Two-Point Conversion attempt failed. Bradford would lead all offensive players with 215 yards rushing on 18 attempts and one touchdown.
The Blue Devils would play much better in all three phases of the game after the intermission. Defensively, the Blue Devils would shut out the Dragons in the second half. They were paced by Wilson who had 10 total tackles, six for loss, and two one-half sacks. Defensive backs Derion Gale and Kamauri Page would both add interceptions. This marks the second straight game the defense has allowed under 200 total yards.
Butler would add another field goal to the tally, this time from 35-yards out. The only other fireworks came when Palmer faked a punt inside their own five-yard line and seemed to take it the distance until a block in the back penalty negated the big gain.
Faust spoke to the team in the postgame huddle.
“I feel like your third quarter play was some of the best all season long. It is going to take our best effort Sunday at weights and film, it is going to take our best school attendance all year, it is going to take our best practice effort all year, if we want to be the Champion, we have to take down the defending Champion. I know the team that played this third quarter can get that done.”
The red hot Blue Devils (4-4, 1-0) will face a big challenge as they travel to Calhoun City to play what many media pundits picked to win Class 2A North. Game Time is set for 7 p.m. at “the Boneyard.”
