Westover enjoys shutout victory over Dougherty

ALBANY — Though they lost control of their own playoff hopes with their road loss at Worth County last week, Emory McKenzie and Westover High School gave an impressive showing for their homecoming crowd, notching a 25-0 shutout against crosstown rival Dougherty on Friday night at Hugh Mills Stadium.

“I’m extremely proud of them,” head coach Octavia Jones said. “They got a chance to celebrate homecoming with a win. Now our focus turns to Bainbridge.”

A week removed from earning a nomination for the Herald’s People’s Choice Player of the Week due to his performance against Worth County, McKenzie picked up right where he left off against the Trojans. The senior quarterback started the evening with a 14-yard touchdown run on the Patriots’ first offensive possession on his way to 101 total yards in the first half.

“We always get 100 percent effort from that guy,” Jones said. “He had a great game and his supporting cast did well tonight too. It was a complete effort from everybody.”

After the Westover defense stifled Dougherty on the subsequent possession, McKenzie led the home team down the field before senior tailback Qundez Carter plunged into the end zone from two yards out, pushing the lead to 13. The Patriots added a safety and a field goal, taking an 18-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

“We’ve just been so green and inexperienced on that side of the ball,” Jones said of his defensive unit, which pitched their first shutout of the season. “We made a lot of mistakes, they cut down on the mistakes and tackled well tonight.”

The Trojans seemed to be on the verge of making a game of it after Westover penalties kept a drive alive. However, Antoine Williams intercepted a Malik Marshall pass near midfield. Two plays later, McKenzie found KJ Adams in the corner of the end zone on a 16-yard touchdown pass.

On the next drive, the Trojans replaced their quarterback but had the same results as Dan Land III picked Anphernee Johnson off, all but closing the door on Dougherty’s comeback hopes.

Emory McKenzie finished with 137 total yards and two touchdowns. Qundez Carter added 95 yards on nine carries. Trevion Rawls added another interception for the Patriot defense.

Westover moved to 2-5 with the win with a region subrecord of 2-1.They have a big game at Bainbridge next week.

Dougherty, meanwhile, fell to 3-4 and 0-3 in subregion play.