PREP FOOTBALL: Saints can't grab Tigers by their tails

By Aviel Smolka
Published in Sports on August 26, 2018 3:13 AM

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By AVIEL SMOLKA

asmolka@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- It took all of two minutes for James Kenan to start scoring Friday evening.

After Southern Wayne went three-and-out on its first series, Tigers quarterback John Thomas Avent threw a screen pass to Deoveon Harris for 51 yards. On the next play, Avent hit Tyquan Henry with a 2-yard touchdown pass.

Three plays later, Harris picked off Saints quarterback De'Moregea Coley and ran it back to end zone from 20 yards out.

James Kenan never looked back and won 57-16.

"Southern Wayne is going to be good football team," James Kenan head coach Will Clark said. "They have good coaches and players so they'll keep getting better."

Avent threw five touchdown passes in the first half.

"He's a good player that works hard," Clark said. "We're excited to see what we can do moving forward."

James Kenan led 29-0 after one quarter.

The Tigers' defense scored another touchdown late in the second quarter when Southern Wayne quarterback Tashawn Philips fumbled a snap which was scooped up by a James Kenan defender, who returned it 90 yards to the house.

James Kenan kicker Alexis Paz converted his sixth PAT of the first half, giving the Tigers a 50-8 halftime lead.

"They [James Kenan] stayed disciplined tonight and made big plays when they we're supposed to make big plays," Southern Wayne head coach Ronnie McClary Jr. said.

Despite the lopsided score, Southern Wayne was competitive, but it could not get out of its own way. The Saints were plagued by poor tackling, multiple turnovers and drive-killing penalties.

The start of the second quarter was a bright spot for Southern Wayne. The Saints recovered a fumble and went on a 10-play drive that resulted in their first touchdown of the game.

"We had some good spurts, we just need to pick it up mentally and physically," McClary Jr. said. "We need to be all in and we're not there yet."

Running back DeAndre Wright led the Saints 107 yards rushing on 17 carries. Quarterback Tayshawn Philips went 5-for-9 with 60 yards and one interception.