West Carroll Soars into Memphis for 58-22 Win

MEMPHIS (October 24) — The West Carroll War Eagles traveled Thursday to face KIPP Memphis Collegiate High School for a non-region football contest at Crump Stadium. The War Eagles pulled away in the second quarter and coasted to a 58-22 victory over the Phoenix.

West Carroll won the coin toss but deferred possession.

The War Eagles caught KIPP off guard with an onside kick to open the game and made the recovery at the Phoenix 48.

Mason Taylor ran for eight, and a KIPP penalty moved the chains. Taylor made a short gain, then Trinden Kirby took it twice for ten and seven yards. Jace Hammett made a short gain, but a false start made it third-and-seven. Taylor sealed the drive with a 21-yard touchdown run. He ran again for two points, and West Carroll led 8-0 with 7:26 to play in the opening frame.

Taylor kicked deep this time, and KIPP started at their 35. The Phoenix quickly faced fourth-and-seven, thanks in part to a big stop by War Eagle Joseph Brogdon. With no punting game, KIPP went for it. Running back Devon Crudup threw to S’Zion Jefferson for a 62-yard touchdown. A high snap forced quarterback Kai O’Neal to scramble on the two-point try, and Kirby forced him out of bounds short of the goal line. Halfway through the first frame, West Carroll led 8-6.

A short kick by KIPP was returned by Kirby to the War Eagle 46, and Taylor took the first snap all the way for a 54-yard touchdown. Kirby converted for two points, and West Carroll led 16-6 with five minutes to play in the first.

The War Eagles recovered another onside kick after several deflections and bounces.

Starting at their 39, Taylor and quarterback Zac Fowler combined runs for a first down, then Taylor moved the chains again. Zach Hames made a short gain, then Fowler kept twice for another first down. Taylor made a short gain as the first quarter ended. Hames began the second with a six-yard carry, and Kirby gained five for a first-and-goal. Fowler kept for the five-yard touchdown, then kept again for two points. Early in the second frame, West Carroll led 24-6.

A third successful onside kick gave the War Eagles the ball right back. They managed a first down to get into KIPP territory and would have had another, but Kevin Garrett stripped the ball from Taylor in the open field.

The Phoenix failed to capitalize on the great defensive play, turning the ball over on downs. Brogdon and Hammett made a big stop for a loss, and two failed pass attempts doomed the drive.

Fowler kept for six, then for 25 to set up first down at the 13. Taylor fielded a high snap deep in the backfield and scrambled all the way to the 3, but a block in the back penalty reset the play at the 21. Hames ran for five and eight yards, then Kirby gained four. On fourth-and-one, Fowler kept for a four-yard touchdown. He was stopped short on the two-point try, and the lead was 30-6 with three minutes remaining in the half.

O’Neal made a good return to the KIPP 41. Kylaun Taylor threw to Christopher Farris for 33 yards, then Garrett ran 26 for the touchdown. O’Neal threw to Unique Cantrell for two points, and the War Eagle lead was 30-14 with two minutes left in the second quarter.

West Carroll employed good clock management to score again before the break. A failed onside attempt by KIPP started the drive near midfield. Taylor moved the chains with two carries, then Kirby and Hames combined for another first down. Taylor finished the job with a nine-yard run and an eight-yard touchdown. Fowler was stopped short on the conversion, and the War Eagles led 36-14 with five seconds on the clock.

The Phoenix received the kick and tried a deep pass before time expired.

KIPP tried another onside kick to start the second half, but West Carroll recovered it at the 42. Taylor went for 14 and then seven, and a Phoenix penalty at the end of the latter play made it first down at the 22. Hammett ran for 12, then Kirby took it nine yards to the 1. He tried again, but was stopped a half-yard short. Hammett punched it in, then repeated for the two-point conversion. The War Eagles led 44-14 with ten minutes to play in the third.

The Phoenix started near midfield, but a high snap on second down was recovered by Brogdon at the KIPP 40.

Taylor ran it four straight times, the last for a five-yard touchdown. Fowler kept for two points, and the War Eagles led 52-14 with four minutes left in the third.

KIPP started deep after a fair catch, and a false start moved it back farther. O’Neal willed his way to a 13-yard gain as the third quarter ended, but big stops by Hammett and Brogdon to start the final frame forced a fourth-down pass attempt that fell incomplete.

Taylor wasted no time, taking the first snap 29 yards to paydirt. The two-point try failed, and the War Eagles led 58-14 with eight minutes to play.

The Phoenix kept battling in the waning minutes. The drive was stalling, but Garrett found a gap on third-and-seven for 17 yards. Jefferson came down with a 32-yard catch that was nearly intercepted by War Eagle Eli Travelstead, then O’Neal kept for a six-yard touchdown. Cantrell caught a two-point pass, and the West Carroll lead was 58-22 with a minute left.

Time expired on the running clock before the kickoff.

West Carroll had 402 yards of offense, all on the ground.

KIPP had 180 yards, 136 in the air and 44 on the ground.

Mason Taylor led the War Eagles with 18 carries for 246 yards and five touchdowns.

Zac Fowler had six rushes for 53 yards and two touchdowns.

Jace Hammett had three carries for 16 yards and a touchdown.

Trinden Kirby had nine carries for 43 yards.

Zach Hames rushed six times for 44 yards.

West Carroll concludes the regular season Friday as they host region foe McKenzie. Kickoff is 7 p.m.