Potts Camp downs Devils

The Potts Camp Cardinals led by six at the half Friday but things were not flowing offensively quite like they wanted.

That changed in the next 24 minutes as coach Darrow Anderson’s team coasted to a 44-24 road win over Region 1-1A foe Ashland.

“We struggled a little bit offensively in the first half and on two plays on special teams, but our defensive game plan was perfectly executed,” he said.

“We had the will to fight through the close game and executed a lot better offensively the second half to get the win.”

Three Potts Camp players rushed for more than 100 yards – Jabryan Pegues 16 carries for 199 yards, Antrell Tucker 16 for 151 and Javian Walton 15 for 101.

The Cardinals had 483 yards total offense – 427 on the ground and 56 through the air.

Potts Camp went up 6-0 courtesy of the defense. Pegues picked up a fumble and returned it 82 yards for the score.

Walton made it 12-0 on a 2-yard carry to the end zone.

The Cardinals’ other score prior to the halftime came on Pegues’ 2-yard carry.

The Blue Devils cashed in a 75-yard kickoff return and a 43-yard punt return for their first-half points.

Walton ran 25 yards for six points to get the Potts Camp offense rolling in the third. He also carried for the two-point conversion. The lead was 26-12.

The Blue Devils countered with a 5-yard touchdown run.

Potts Camp next got two points on a safety. Ashland fumbled in its own end zone and Detrez Marion recovered.

The Cardinals went up 38-18 on a 25-yard pass from Collin Massengill to Ryan Baldwyn and then a conversion run by Massengill.

Ashland cut it to 12 on a 25-yard pass play.

The final margin was 20 after Pegues scored on a 50-yard run and Massengill carried for the two.

Massengill also had an interception in the game for  Potts Camp.

“We are really proud of our guys,” said Anderson, whose team won its second straight to go to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the district. “We are especially proud of the foundation that our seniors are laying down for the future of Potts Camp football.”

Next up for the Cardinals is a Thursday night game this week at H.W. Byers. The Lions, also a member of Region 1-1A, are 1-8 overall and 0-6 in the district. They’re coming off a 68-50 loss last week to Thrasher.