SPRINGHILL – Everybody went home happy at Baucum-Ferrar Stadium Friday night.
There wasn’t much to complain about, as the Knights scored at will during a second-half bombardment of the Booker T. Washington Lions.
There were some growls from the crowd at halftime as North Webster went in down 8-7, but things picked up for the men in black as they won going away 47-22.
“It started off kind of slow,” Knights head coach John Ware said. “They were giving us some trouble by blitzing a lot. To be able to come out after that bad first half and take control of the game was big for us. It was the first time we’ve really come out and played good football all year.”
Ware attributed the early miscues to miscommunications along the offensive front.
“The early struggles were really just some alignment issues and not getting some blocks on their blitzes. For the first time, we saw a little get-up-and-go,” Ware said. “We started wearing on them and doing what we do. This looked like the North Webster team we’ve always been.”
The Knights got superb efforts from their backfield trio of TJ Hawthorne, Jaylen Thomas and Sam Modisette.
Thomas finished with a team and game-high 154 yards rushing and a touchdown as he continues to find his footing in North Webster’s downhill attack. Hawthorne found the end zone six times for North Webster, totaling 126 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground and adding 48 yard reception for a touchdown. His final score came on a kickoff return covering 65-yards, capping his breakout performance.
Modisette finished with 16 carries for 93 yards, seven shy of being the Knights’ third 100-yard rusher in the game.
“Sam Modisette wore on them the whole second half,” Ware said. “They got tired of hitting him. All three backs played well last night.”
Meanwhile, the Knights’ defense did what they’ve become known for: shutting down opposing offenses.
“They’re consistent in what they do,” Ware said. “We’re playing better technique right now than we have all year.
We’re starting to pick up things and having more confidence in what we’re doing out there. The guys are playing the technique how we’re coaching them to and it’s resulting in them making plays, and that make’s it fun.”
The Knights’ next game will be on the road against an equally-imposing running game. The Loyola Flyers are 6-0 on the season and currently look like the team to beat in 1-3A.
“They like to run the ball just like we do,” Ware said. “It’s going to be a fun matchup. It’s a huge game for us with big implications and we’ll be ready to play.”