Warriors power to first win of season in home opener

Dustin Beatty avoids an Augusta defender during his 52 yard run for a TD during the third quarter of the Warrior win Friday night. (Tribune photo/Dan Brawner)

The EPC Warriors came into their game with Augusta Friday night at Lepanto knowing that the Red Devils had been one of the favorites to vie for the 2A-3 conference title before the season began. While the Devils may still contend for a trip to the playoffs, the Warriors made it clear that they were in contention for a trip as well as they won their first game of the season in convincing fashion, 40-21.

Delivering his best performance of the year, Dustin Beatty averaged 8.19 yards every time he touched the ball finishing with 214 yards on 26 carries while registering two touchdowns and grabbing an interception as well. Teammate Byron Ford was only a little behind Beatty, though, as he also scored 2 TDs, one through the air, while averaging six yards per rush on 17 carries for 124 yards total.

"We did a really good job dominating the line of scrimmage," said coach Bryan Harris later. "Especially in the second half. We dominated the second half."

The Devils began the game with the ball, but quickly punted to the Warriors who began at their 45. Showing early what the night was going to entail, EPC marched down the field in nine plays to take the game's first lead when fullback Lando Bass punched in from the one. The PAT was blocked, but the Warriors had a 6-0 lead with 6:12 remaining in the first period.

The Devils' next series saw them get as far as the EPC 37, but the drive ended when August threw incomplete on a fourth and 12 pass attempt.

Warrior Lando Bass runs over a Red Devil on the way to a one-yard TD during the fourth quarter of EPC's win over Augusta Friday night at Lepanto. (Tribune photo/Dan Brawner)

EPC looked as if they were going to put the game away early as they took the ball and drove to the Red Devil 25 where they had a second and five and all the momentum. The Warriors were flagged for holding on the next play, though, and suddenly they had a second and 15 at the 35.

Beatty was stuffed for no gain on the next play. Then on third down quarterback Carson Tyler sent a pass toward the end zone in hopes of quick strike. Instead Augusta grabbed the ball and returned it to their own 26.

Showing why they were highly thought of prior to the season opener, the visitors to took only five plays to march the 74 yard distance for a 7-6 go-ahead score with :02 left in the quarter.

"(Augusta) had several good running backs," continued Harris. "Four of them got in the 40-50 yard range, but none of them got over 55 yards on the night."

The Warriors opened the second quarter at their 32 and in eight plays found themselves at the Augusta nine yard line with a first and goal. Hopes of taking the lead back, however, quickly vanished when on first down ford was thrown back for a two yard loss, followed by no gain for Beatty. Then on the next two downs, Tyler threw incomplete first to Matt Powell and then to Bucky Chamberlin resulting in the ball going over to Augusta.

"We had some open receivers in the first half," Harris said. "But we overthrew them. The threat of us going deep softened up the defense for the run, though."

Over the next 3:00 both the Devils and Warriors had short drives of which ended in punts.

Then with 1:30 left in the half, Augusta set up shop again following a productive punt return to the EPC 43. On the first down pass play, though, Beatty stepped in front of the receiver, stole the ball and returned it to the Augusta 29. Five plays and 23 yards later, with :39 showing on the clock, the Warriors were charged with holding. What should have been a first and goal at the six turned into a first and goal at the 16.

It proved to be no problem, however, as Tyler found Ford just inside the end zone for one of only two completions of the night. Tyler followed this up with a run for the two-point conversion to put the Warriors in front at the half 14-7.

Both teams were unsuccessful on their first possessions of the second half, each one punting to the other to end their drives.

The Warriors took the ball at their 16 for their second drive of the half. Beatty shot out to the 31 on first down. Ford got the call on second down and between his run and an Augusta face mask penalty. The ball was now at the EPC 48, first and 10.

Ford got the ball again on the next play and turned it into his longest run of the night, 52 yards for the Warriors third TD of the game. Beatty kicked the PAT good to put the home team up 21-7 win 6:21 remaining in the third period.

As it had once before, the Red Devils responded quickly, taking advantage of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the preceding PAT to help them return the ball to the Warrior 39 on the ensuing kickoff. They covered the distance in five plays to close the EPC lead to 21-14 after the PAT.

After the Augusta kickoff, EPC, using the remainder of the third period, drove to the Red Devil four on seven plays. Then on the first play of the fourth period Beatty rammed the ball in from the two. The PAT was wide, making the score 27-14.

Augusta then returned the kickoff to the EPC 46, but failed to advantage of the field position as they fumbled the snap on the first play from scrimmage putting the Warriors were once again on offense at their 43.

For the next 11 plays, Beatty and Ford alternated running down the field until EPC had a third and goal at the one. On the next play, Bass administered the coup de grace when he dove over center for his second TD of the night. Again the PAT was no good, put the Warriors now a comfortable 33-14 lead with just 6:25 remaining on the clock.

Like all good teams, Augusta wasn't dead yet and took only eight plays to span the distance from their 37 to the Warrior goal, scoring on a second and goal at the three. The PAT closed the gap to 12 points 33-21 with 4:22 left in the game.

The predictable onside kick was recovered by the Warriors at the Augusta 47. Four plays netted the Red Devils only four yards and the ball went back to the visitors on downs at the 43.

Likewise Augusta could only manage five plays to the EPC 43 where a fumble basically the outcome of the game, Hunter Richmond recovering at the Devil 47.

With less than 2:00 left, the Warriors were looking to just run out the clock. But on third and six from the 43, Beatty, after first appearing to be stopped, found a seam and went the distance for the final TD of the night. Bass kicked the PAT good and the final score was set at 40-21 with 1:18 remaining.

The final embracement for the visitors came when Ford intercepted Augusta's first play from scrimmage moments later.

Tyler finished the night with 55 yards on eight rushes while going 2 for 10 through the air for 21 yards, a TD and an interception. Bubba Timbs had one carry for 19 yards and Bass scored his two TDs while going 10 yards on four carries.

The Warriors will travel to Cross County for their third district contest of the season.

"Cross County looks like the best team we'll face," concluded Harris. "They have big linemen, a quarterback who can throw, a good receiver, good backs. They're just really balanced."

Game time is set for 7:30.