Windsor falls in finale but shows true grit
Published 5:02 pm Friday, November 8, 2024
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The varsity football teams of Windsor High School and Southampton High School battled back and forth in a tight contest early between division foes Friday, Nov. 1, before the Indians pulled away for a 59-26 home win.
“I think we had a solid plan prepared,” Windsor Head Coach Benjamin DuBois said, “and it sustained for a while, but defensively we missed a lot of opportunities to take control of the game. We were short handed on defense, so many of our players played the majority of the game, so I am glad we never gave up.”
Both teams scored touchdowns within the first few minutes of the game, and Southampton was able to open up an early lead.
Indians junior quarterback Zayden Pope connected with senior wide receiver Zykiem Murrell on a 41-yard touchdown pass to help put Southampton up 21-7 only three minutes and 20 seconds into the game.
But then Windsor was able to march down the field on the strength of a potent run game led by junior quarterback Jeremy King and junior running back Javion Collins. The seven-minute, 10-second drive was capped by a short touchdown run from King to help make the score 21-14.
Then the Indians fumbled near the start of their ensuing drive, turning the ball over at the 50, and the Dukes drove back down the field, with King scoring on a one-yard run. A two-point conversion attempt failed, but the score was now 21-20.
However, the Indians began to pull away in the final eight minutes of the first half.
Southampton senior running back Javonte Lynch ran for a 70-yard touchdown to help open a 28-20 lead.
Then senior defensive back Laurence Wallace intercepted a Windsor pass, setting up a drive that resulted in a 23-yard touchdown pass from Pope to senior running back Steven McClenny. Pope ran for the two-point conversion to make the score 36-20 with 5:42 still left in the half.
Murrell came down with an interception later to help prevent the Dukes from responding before halftime.
Southampton outscored Windsor 23-6 in the second half.
“Even though we were not happy about turning the ball over once, offensively we were pretty satisfied with our performance,” Indians Head Coach Travis Parker said in his appraisal of his team’s performance across all four quarters.
DuBois highlighted his team’s standouts on the night, noting that King continued his great season, rushing for 164 yards and passing for 136 yards, with two touchdowns scored. Collins had 102 yards rushing and 46 yards passing, and senior wideout Fleetwood Turner finished with 155 yards receiving.
This game was the last on Windsor’s regular season schedule, as it finished with a 1-9 record overall.
Though playoff spots have been available sometimes to sub-.500 teams in smaller regions, Region 2A has 14 teams, and DuBois said he believes the door is closed to the postseason for the Dukes this year.
“But with minimal seniors graduating and so many returning, I feel the future is getting brighter,” he said.
With the victory Nov. 1, Southampton extended its winning streak to six games and improved to 8-1 on the season. Parker said the Indians are on pace to finish with the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in Region 2A.
