Jr. Pirates pound Westside

GOSNELL-- The Gosnell Junior Pirates made quick work of the Westside Junior Warriors in a 36-14 win Thursday night at J.W. Rea Field -- their final home game of the year.

The Pirates (6-1, 4-1) scored all 36 points and collected 292 yards of total offense in the first 16 minutes of play, invoking the mercy clock for the entire second half.

Gosnell pounced on the Warriors from the starting gun. On the second play of the game, the Pirates recovered a Westside fumble at the Warrior 38. Six plays later, quarterback Dwight Griffin hit Brian Anderson for a six-yard touchdown pass to give the Pirates an 8-0 lead after a successful two point conversion.

Griffin had another big night, throwing for 103 yards and a pair of touchdowns while rushing for 78 yards and a touchdown -- all in one half of play.

Running back Michael Miller scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns on the night on the Pirates next possession. His 12-yard score and two-point conversion put the Pirates ahead, 16-0, with less than a minute to play in the first quarter.

Griffin went to the air for the Pirates' next score. This time he found Adrian Montezuma open down the left sideline on the first play of a drive for a 29-touchdown pass with 6:37 left in the half to make it a 22-0 game.

Westside threatened to score for the first time on their next drive. With a first-and-goal at the Pirate 8 yard line, the Gosnell defense flexed its muscle and stopped the Warriors on four plays and took over at the 6 yard line with 2:33 left in the half. That was enough time for the Pirates to drive 94 yards, score and then score one more time before half time.

Griffin scored the first touchdown on a 24-yard scramble with 1:15 left to make it, 30-0. The Pirates recovered another Warrior fumble on the ensuing possession at the Westside 47-yard line setting up their final score of the half and of the night.

Miller ran the ball in from five yards out for his second score of the night with 15 seconds left in the half to put the Pirates up, 36-0.

Miller tallied up 110 yards of total offense on the night (70 rushing and 40 receiving) to go along with his two touchdowns.

Westside picked up two touchdowns in the second half long after the game had been decided.

The Junior Pirates play their season finale next Thursday night at Valley View.

afitzpatrick@blythevillecourier.com