Enteprise overpowers West Lincoln Bears

Published 5:00 am Monday, September 17, 2001

Friday night’s high school football game pitting Region 4-1A andLincoln County rivals West Lincoln and Enterprise offered a littleof everything. If you were looking for a high-scoring, hardhitting, penalty-marred, turnover-filled football game, then PerryMiller Field was the place to be.

The Yellow Jackets used their size and depth to overpower theWest Lincoln Bears 64-13. Enterprise racked up an amazing 389 yardsof total offense, with 314 of those coming on the ground.

Enterprise hosts Mount Olive on Friday night, while West Lincolnentertains Natchez Cathedral for homecoming. Game times for theseRegion 4-1A contests are 7:30 p.m.

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“Enterprise had entirely too much size and depth for us toovercome,” said West Lincoln head coach Roe Burns following thegame. “They have a very good team.”

The Jackets (2-1, 1-0) flexed their muscles early in the game,taking only 1:48 to put the first points on the scoreboard. Seniorrunningback Bobby Smith dashed 13 yards for a touchdown, on a3-play, 24-yard drive. Scott Sasser’s PAT kick was successful andEnterprise led 7-0.

After a short punt by the Bears, the Jackets used one play tocross the goal line on their second possession. Shermaine Vaughnhit paydirt on a 32-yard punt return with 7:28 left in the openingperiod. Sasser’s PAT kick was good and Enterprise had increasedtheir lead to 14-0.

West Lincoln (0-3, 0-1) gained control of the ball, at their own12 after the ensuing kickoff. Eleven plays and 88 yards later,senior runningback Stacey Fells powered into the endzone from 1yard out. The PAT kick failed and the Bears deficit was reduced to14-6 with 11:30 remaining in the second quarter. During this drive,Enterprise picked up 60 yards in penalties, allowing the Bears topick up 4-of-6 first downs and keep the drive alive.

“We had entirely too many penalties tonight,” said Jacket headcoach Ricky Deere.

Deere’s team would answer the call, following the ensuingkickoff. The Jackets used 5 plays and traveled 86 yards for theirnext score. Vaughn cashed in from 2 yards out. The kick failed with9:44 left in the first half. Enterprise held 20-6 lead. Keys inthis drive were back-to-back runs of 28 and 40 yards by runningbackMonti Crotwell.

After a 43 punt by Fells, the Jackets would culminate a 6-play,70-yard with a 2-yard touchdown run by Bobby Smith. Vaughn’s2-point conversion run was good and Enterprise’s lead was 28-6.Smith’s 28-yard run on second-and-ten from his own 41 was the bigplay in the series.

The passing game had an important role in the final touchdown ofthe half for the Jackets. Junior quarterback Justin Kyzar completed4-of-5 passes for 52 yards in the 5-play, 49-yard drive. Kyzartossed a 12-yard strike to Kody Burns with 2 seconds left until theintermission. Vaughn’s conversion run was good and Enterprise helda commanding 36-6 lead at halftime.

Both teams traded several possessions in the third. The Jacketsstruck paydirt at the 2:01 mark of the third. Kyzar found Crotwellwith a 21-yard touchdown pass. Vaughn’s 2-point conversion wassuccessful and Enterprise led 44-6.

Both teams began to empty their benches near the end of thethird.

Deere’s team would open the scoring in the final stanza at the11-minute mark. Will Sicard carried the ball 8 yards for atouchdown. Derrick Clark ran in the 2-point conversion try for a52-6 advantage.

West Lincoln used their first possession of the final period tofind the endzone. The Bears drove 55 yards in 5 plays. Weston Youngdid the honors for the Bears, from 15 yards out. Jacob Martintacked on the PAT kick and the green-clad Bears trailed 52-13 with8:32 remaining in the game.

“I was really proud of that touchdown drive,” added Burns.

Despite the massive substitutions by both teams, Enterprise wasable to add 2 touchdowns in the final minutes.

With 6:40 left on the clock, Jacket reserve runningback DustySmith scored from 3 yards out. The conversion run failed andEnterprise’s lead was 58-13.

Jacket linebacker Justin Bales picked up a Bear fumble and raced62 yards to the goalline. The conversion run failed and the finalmargin of victory was realized.

“We played real well tonight,” added Deere. “But we had entirelytoo many penalties. We need to take care of the ball.”

Deere’s sentiments were echoed by Burns.

“We have got to do a better job of taking care of the football,”said Burns. His team never gave up despite the overwhelmingmargin.

Several drives were terminated by either turnovers or fumbles inthis game. The teams combined for 14 fumbles (9 lost) and 176 yardsin penalties. Enterprise lost 4 fumbles and amassed 151 yards inpenalties. West Lincoln coughed up 5 fumbles and 25 yards inpenalties.

Defensively, Whit McGraw paced Enterprise with 9 tackles(7 solos). Bobby Smith added 8 tackles (3 solos) and a fumblerecovery. Pierre Harthorne recovered 2 fumbles. Shermaine Vaughn,Seth Boyte, Kody Burns and Caleb Smith had sacks.

West Lincoln was led by Clint Smith with 7 tackles (5solos) and a fumble recovery. Fells provided 5 tackles (a solo).Mitchell, Lee Clark and Jerry Laird had fumblerecoveries.

STATISTICS

E

WL

First Downs

14

9

Rushes-Yards

27-314

43-33

Passing Yards

75

28

Total Yards

389

61

Passes

5-7-0

4-8-0

Fumbles-Lost

6-4

8-5

Punts-Average

0-0

3-32.0

Penalties-Yards

13-151

5-25

Enterprise

14

22

8

20 – 64

West Lincoln

6

0

0

7 – 13

FIRST QUARTER

Enterprise, B. Smith 13 run (Sasser kick),10:12.

Enterprise, S. Vaughn 1 run (Sasser kick),7:28.

SECOND QUARTER

West Lincoln, Fells 1 run (kick failed), 11:30.

Enterprise, S. Vaughn 1 run (kick failed), 9:44.

Enterprise, B. Smith 2 run (S. Vaughn run), 4:05.

Enterprise, Burns 12 pass from Kyzar (S. Vaughn run),:02.THIRD QUARTER

Enterprise, Crotwell 23 pass from Kyzar (S. Vaughn run),2:01.

FOURTH QUARTER

Enterprise, Sicard 8 run (Clark run),11:00.

West Lincoln, Young 15 run (Martin kick),8:32.

Enterprise, D. Smith 3 run (run failed),6:40.

Enterprise, Bales 62 fum ret (run failed),4:49.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: Enterprise, Crotwell 3-90, S. Vaughn 9-42, B.Smith 5-61, G. Vaughn 5-41, D. Smith 2-3, Sicard 1-8. West Lincoln,Fells 12-33, Young 6-38, Skates 3-9, Roberts 2-4, Welch 2-3,Rushing 1-(-7), Mitchell 8-(-17), Team 7-(-27).

PASSING: Enterprise, Kyzar 5-7-0, 75. West Lincoln,Mitchell 3-7-0, 18, Rushing 1-1-0, 10.

RECEIVING: Enterprise, Burns 3-33, Crotwell 1-21,Harthorne 1-19. West Lincoln, Young 2-15, Fells 2-13.