JONESBORO— The first half of the Friday night contest against the top two teams in the 4A-3 conference — the Gosnell Pirates and the Westside Warriors— lived up to expectations as they headed into the half with the Pirates leading 16-14.
The Warriors, however, jumped out to a 14-0 lead. Westside went on to win the game, 36-30, to claim the league title. Warriors junior quarterback River Engle started the scoring off when he was successful on a quarterback sneak from the Pirate one-yard line to give the Warriors a 6-0 lead. The PAT was good by Warriors senior kicker Lucas Walz to give the Warriors a seven-point lead with nine seconds remaining in the first quarter. On the Warriors’ following drive, they returned to the end zone with a one-yard run by Logan McPherson, and the PAT was good, giving the Warriors a 14-0 lead with 8:06 remaining in the first half.
GHS, however, answered quickly when junior quarterback Cooper Pieri found sophomore running back Travelle Anderson who did the rest as he found the end zone on a 54-yard run after the catch. Senior Jy Young found the endzone for the two-point conversion and the Pirates trailed 14-8 with 6:29 remaining in the half.
The Pirates were helped out when senior Zy Kennedy forced McPherson to fumble and recovered the ball on their own 41 with 5:05 remaining in the first half. Three plays later, Pieri found Young on the Warrior 45-yard line and Young took care of the rest to tie game at 14. Kennedy’s two-point conversion attempt was good and the Pirates led 16-14 with 3:17 remaining. The Pirate defense stopped the Warriors on the 40-yard line and recovered the ball with 10 seconds remaining in the half. Pieri tried for the handoff; however, he and the runner weren’t on the same page causing a Pirate fumble and the Warriors received the ball on their own 36 with five seconds remaining.
The Warriors pass fell incomplete and the Pirates led 16-14 at the half.
The Pirates received the ball to start the second half and capitalized three plays later when Pieri found Young again; this time for a 52-yard completion. The Pirates two-point attempt was successful, and GHS led 24-22 with 10:23 remaining in the third. The Warriors first drive of the half lasted right at seven minutes as McPherson found the end zone for his second touchdown on the night to cut the Pirates lead to three with 3:22 remaining in the third.
The Pirates’ following drive was hurt by penalties and then Pieri was intercepted by Warriors senior linebacker Brady Johnson with 1:40 remaining in the third. WHS’s drive went into the fourth quarter and McPherson found the end zone for his third touchdown on the night with 9:01 remaining in the game. The PAT was good and the Warriors led 28-24. The Pirates’ next drive finished with the shiftiness and power of Young as he broke free to begin the play on the Warriors 15-yard line and then finished it off as he bulldozed his way through a defender.
The run gave the Pirates a 30-28 lead with 6:28 remaining. The Pirates two-point attempt was stopped short. The Warriors started their final drive on their own 43-yard line with 6:28 remaining. The drive would see two official measurements — one that favored the Warriors by the tip of the ball and the other that was stopped on a fourth and one with 1:20 remaining on the Pirate 21. Engel called his own number as the quarterback sneak was successful. With 11 seconds remaining, McPherson found the end zone on an 11-yard run to give the Warriors a 34-30 lead. The Pirates defense expected the Warriors to go for a PAT, however, Warriors head coach Bobby Engle called a bootleg for Engle and the Warriors led 36-30. The Pirates last play was a deep ball to senior running back Amarion Partee that fell incomplete, and the Warriors won their first ever conference title as they defeated the Pirates 36-30. McPherson finished the night with 240 yards rushing on 46 carries with four touchdowns. The Warriors outrushed the Pirates 324 yards to 139 yards.
The Pirates will host the Mena Bearcats next Friday night at J. W. Rea Stadium.