Junior Devils Finish Successful Season

By Editor | October 18, 2023 |

T.J. Jackson breaks up the Pope Bulldog pass late in the second quarter in junior high action.

WATER VALLEY – The Water Valley Junior High Blue Devils finished the 2023 campaign with a (5-1) with a win in the final game of their season. The Junior Devils hosted the Pope Bulldogs on October 10 during the fall break and came away with a 14 to 0 victory.

The Blue Devils would take the opening drive down inside of the Bulldogs’ 10-yard line before surrendering the football due to a fumble. The Blue Devil defense held strong as they did not allow a first down until the Second Half of Play. On Water Valley’s second drive, quarterback Parker Chapman took the football around left end for a 22-yard rushing touchdown. Chapman would connect with H-Back Leiton Griffin for the two-point conversion pass to put the Devils up 8 to 0. The Blue Devils would force another punt and waste no time as running back Braylen Benson rushed up the middle for a 9-yard rushing touchdown for the final score of the game.

The second half was a mostly defensive effort as the Blue Devils were paced by defensive lineman Peyton Chandler and linebacker Demarea Johnson with nine tackles each as well as safety Easton Newman with an interception and a pass breakup.

The Blue Devils were able to play everyone including all seventh graders in this “combined game.” The Junior Devils will now shift their attention to the weight room, basketball court, and baseball diamond for the football Offseason.

“We are proud of you for your effort this season. The guys bought into everything we coached throughout the past nine weeks,” Coach A.J. Bratton said in the post-game huddle. “If you will commit to each other, commit to this program, commit to the weight room, and stick together, the sky is the limit for this group with the freshmen above you and the ones below you. We are excited about what the future holds. We are looking forward to a good offseason to get bigger, faster, and stronger and prepare these guys to continue the tradition of Water Valley football.”