West Carroll Junior High Earns Homecoming Win Over Central, 26-12

ATWOOD (September 16) — West Carroll Junior High celebrated Homecoming Monday, delayed from the previous week due to weather. The War Eagles hosted Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central Middle School and kept the Tigers at arm’s length for a 26-12 victory.

The War Eagles were set to receive the opening kick, but Tiger Jake Pardue’s short kick was recovered by Central. The Tigers failed to capitalize, going three-and-out and punting.

West Carroll took over at their 25 and opened with a nine-yard run by Jason Roberts. Parker Newman then lost a couple yards, but Roberts gained them back and then converted a fourth-and-inches. Newman then broke loose for a 36-yard touchdown. He also ran in for the two-point conversion, and the War Eagles led 8-0 with 2:40 to play in the opening frame.

West Carroll tried an onside kick as well, but Tiger Easton Bullington fell on the ball near midfield. Junah Smith took the first handoff, but was stopped for an eight-yard loss by Spencer Long. Mason McGee ran it next, gaining five yards before Chance Long made the stop. On third-and-13, quarterback Williams Holder threw to Pardue for a 23-yard gain. Pardue moved the chains two more times as the first quarter ended, then took it to the 1 on the first play of the second. McGee punched it in for the score. Pardue was stopped on the two-point try, and Central cut the deficit to 8-6 in the first minute of the second frame.

Pardue’s kickoff was another onside attempt, but War Eagle Kelson Melton picked it up and made a short return to midfield. Newman got some good blocks to get to the sideline and go the full 50 yards to paydirt. Newman was stopped on the two-point conversion, and the West Carroll lead was 14-6 with 6:23 to go in the second quarter.

Central again started near midfield but stalled and turned the ball over on downs thanks to a big third down stop by S. Long and another on fourth by Newman and Ethan Baker.

Newman ran three straight times, the last a 36-yard gain to set up first-and-goal at the 9. A false start cost five yards, but S. Long ran for the 14-yard touchdown. Newman was stopped again on the conversion, and the War Eagles led 20-6 with 2:31 to play in the first half.

The West Carroll defense forced another Tiger three-and-out with stops by Emmitt Ramsey, Izzy Stensrud and S. Long.

West Carroll managed three plays before the half.

Central received the second-half kick and started at their 45. Smith ran for five, then a West Carroll offside penalty moved the chains. McGee was stopped for a loss by Kaleb Martin, then Smith gained eleven. McGee picked up the first down, then Pardue got another with a 16-yard gain. Pardue repeated for seven, then Smith matched that to set up first-and-goal at the 3. Pardue capped the scoring drive, and Holder threw incomplete on the two-point try. With 2:15 to play in the third, West Carroll led 20-12.

War Eagle Isaiah Lott recovered Central’s onside kick attempt at midfield. Newman nearly had another 50-yard touchdown, but was brought down at the 2 by Smith. Newman got the other two yards on his next try, then threw incomplete on the conversion. With under two minutes remaining in the third, West Carroll led 26-12.

Both offenses spun their wheels for the remainder of the contest.

The Tigers wrapped up the third and turned the ball over on downs on the first play of the fourth.

The War Eagles sustained a ground drive, earning two first downs before ultimately turning the ball over on downs with two minutes to play.

Central earned a pair of firsts as well on passes from Holder to Smith and Smith to Pardue, but Holder’s next pass attempt, under heavy pressure, failed to reach the line of scrimmage and was recovered by West Carroll.

With under a minute left, the War Eagles took a knee twice to seal the 26-12 win.