by Jeffrey J. Zeigler/Contributing Writer
jzeigler@hotmail.com

COURTLAND
Southampton High School used several big plays, including a long run, a kickoff return, and a “pick six” to down Windsor High School 42-16 in a Tri-Rivers District football contest Friday.

The homecoming crowd went home with the Indians jumping out to a 22-0 lead in the first half, leaving the outcome of the game just a formality.

The Indians relied on a strong running game to get the job done. Workhorse running back Coby Williams rushed for 200 yards on 22 carries, including 152 yards in the first half. The Indians attempted just six passes, all of them incomplete.

“Coby is a senior,” said Willie Gillus, Southampton head coach. “He is our leader on offense and he makes it go from the offensive standpoint and he carried the load tonight.”

After a Windsor 3-and-out to open the game, Southampton scored in just 3 plays, aided by a Windsor personal foul penalty. On the third play of the drive, Delonta Boone took a handoff and bulled his way 19 yards up the middle for a touchdown. Williams ran the extra point to put the Indians up 8-0 at the 9:52 mark of the first quarter.

Windsor quarterback Keshawn Reid was intercepted by Devon Tynes to set up Southampton’s next score. Seven plays later, Williams dashed 51 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 3:07 left to play in the first quarter.

The next score was Southampton again, this time in the second quarter. Boone finished off an eight-play drive with a 1-yard plunge over the middle for a touchdown. Jayquan Ryland ran in the extra point, and the Southampton route was on at 22-0 with 11:29 to play in the half.

The Dukes struck for a score of their own. Reid tossed a 19-yard bomb to Malcolm Greene in the left side of the end zone. Greene, all 6 foot 6 of him, dove to make a spectacular catch for the touchdown. Reid ran in the two-point conversion to cut the Southampton lead to 22-8 with 7:50 to play in the half.

The backbreaker, though, came just 12 seconds later on the ensuing kickoff. Southampton’s Jameson Long returned Phillip Carr’s boot 68 yards for a touchdown. The Indians led 28-8.

Southampton put one more on the board before the half when Daniel Agunzo picked off Reid’s pass and dashed for a touchdown. Boone ran the extra point and the Indians led 36-8 with 2:35 left in the half.

Gillus said the Southampton line on both sides of the ball made the difference in the first half.

“We got out early tonight and the offensive and defensive lines were dominant in the first half,” he said.

With nothing to lose, Windsor went to the passing game in the second half. Reid finished the game 11-for-22 for 218 yards through the air. His main target was Greene, who caught eight passes for 147 yards. Southampton held the Dukes to just 64 yards on the ground.

“We loaded the box a lot and they have a great player (Greene). He just jumped over our kids a few times. We have a few that are 5-7, 5-8, and he is 6-6. They were on him, but they just couldn’t make the play,” Gillus said.

Southampton (2-6) travels to Park View next Friday. Windsor (2-6) plays at Franklin next Friday.