By ADAM WELCH
pressbox1.com

ATWOOD - West Carroll used an aggressive defensive scheme to ground visiting Harrelson's air attack, then took over on offense to pound out a 44-18 victory Tuesday night.

The War Eagles follow up their 16-0 road victory at Hillcrest with the decisive home-opening victory and have bolted from the gate with a 2-0 mark. West Carroll coach Wade Maddox said the effort was better in Tuesday night's game.

“We came out against Hillcrest in our first game a little flat. Tonight we were not flat," Maddox said. "We were hitting people and driving them off the line of scrimmage. Our defense played excellent tonight against an explosive Harrelson offensive squad."

Harrelson is a consolidated school made up of teams in northern Henry County an have been known for their efficient passing game. The War Eagles started on defense to begin the home opener in an effort to ground the Hawks. The Eagle defense created havoc early.

On the Hawks' first play, West Carroll got pressure up front with a sack by Jacob Wynn. Then Jamal Glenn's huge hit forced a fumble recovered by West Carroll. Two plays later Glenn got the call going 65 yards up the left sideline for the touchdown. West Carroll’s two-point conversion was good giving the Eagles an early 8-0 lead. Harrelson clawed right back.

The Hawks responded with dual quarterback’s Tyler Galimore and Houston completing consecutive passes to Drew Stubblefield. This set up Galimore’s 5-yard touchdown run off tackle. This cut West Carroll’s lead to 8-6. The Eagles wasted little time responding. Wynn brought the ball back to midfield on the kickoff. A Darwin Martinez 7-yard run followed. This set up shop for Glenn weaving through defenders 46 yards to paydirt. Glenn’s two-point conversion was good giving the Eagles a 14-6 lead with the first quarter winding down.

The Hawks’ next drive was hampered by penalties. War Eagle Matt Moore’s sack highlighted the Eagles’ defensive stand. This pinned the Hawks’ deep in their own territory. This put West Carroll in good field position. After failed run attempts inside the 10 yard-line on fourth-and-goal, quarterback Latrell Huff found Scott Hurley wide open for the touchdown. Martinez two-point conversion followed giving the Eagles a 22-6 lead with 4:05 remaining in the first half. The Eagles’ Robert Reynolds recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff at the Hawk 18 yard line. Three plays later Glenn went 9 yards on the cutback for the touchdown. The conversion failed as West Carroll took a 30-6 lead. With little time remaining before the half, the Eagles’ were not done lighting up the scoreboard.

The Hawks, in desperation, went to the air where West Carroll’s Darwin Martinez made an incredible interception. Martinez brought it inside Hawks’ territory. Glenn capped off his incredible night with another touchdown with a good lead block to help the cause. The conversion was good giving the Eagles a commanding 38-6 lead going to the locker room.

"Jamal Glenn ran the ball probably the best I’ve ever seen as he was physical and so did Darwin {Martinez}," said Maddox. "It was a total team effort and we had an excellent game tonight. I’m proud of the way they played and how they didn’t let up throughout the contest. We scored on every possession our starters were in the game."

With the clock running most of the second half, multiple players saw action for the Eagles. Wynn highlighted the Eagles’ second half with his 44 yard touchdown run early. The Hawks scored a couple of touchdown’s late but it was not enough.

Maddox said his team didn't have a lot of time to prepare for Harrelson, so that just made the victory that much more satisfying.

"We only had one day to get ready for Harrelson and they are one of those teams that plays hard every down," Maddox said. "Their offense is unlike others in junior High football as they feature multiple offensive looks. Our defense executed the game plan brilliantly considering that we only had one day to prepare for them."

Up next for West Carroll is a road trip to Gleason on Sept. 4. Kickoff for that game is 6:30.

"Gleason always gives their opponents problems. They are always a tough team and they play smashmouth football every down. We have some unfinished business with the Junior Bulldogs from last year," Maddox said, referring to the triple-overtime loss to Gleason spoiling West Carroll's homecoming. "I’ve been thinking about that for a year now and I don’t like to losing to them. I went to school there and I don’t like losing to them. I want us to go to Gleason and return the favor a little bit. So, we’re going back to work and I have no doubt these guys will be ready to go at Gleason on September 4."