9/30/2009 6:00:00 PM Tornadoes take homecoming win
By STEVE SWOGETINSKY Sports Editor
The Philadelphia High School Tornadoes celebrated homecoming with a 42-8 victory over Newton High School Friday night in prep football action.
For the second week in a row, the Tornadoes' field was covered with rain water but it didn't slow down the Tornadoes as they improved their record to 5-1.
Philadelphia will open Region 5-3A competition Friday night as they play host to Clarkdale. The Bulldogs come in at 2-3, having lost a 14-7 decision to Pisgah last Friday night.
"This was a good win but now the games really start counting," Philadelphia coach Teddy Dyess said. "Our goal is to win the state championship, and that is a step-by-step process. The first thing you have to do is win your district and that's what we are focusing on."
The Tornadoes scored on their first possession. After Jeremy Morgan put the Tornadoes inside the Tigers' 20 on a 21-yard run, Brandon Willis took it the rest of the way on two runs. First, Willis battled his way to the three-yard line on a 14-yard run. He carried it the rest of the way the next play for a touchdown. Latimer Smith kicked the extra point and the Tornadoes led 7-0.
On the final play of the first quarter, Newton's Roderick Young intercepted a pass and took it back to near the Philadelphia 20-yard line. Two plays later, DeKarion Beasley scored on an 11-yard run. Terrance Evans caught a pass for the two-point conversion and the Tigers led 8-7 with 11:11 left in the second quarter.
The Tornadoes took the ensuing kickoff and drove it in for a touchdown. Willis scored from two yards out and tacked on the two-point conversion to put Philadelphia in front 15-8.
After the kickoff, C.J. Johnson recovered a fumble to set up the next touchdown. This time, Willis scored on a five-yard run. Latimer Smith kicked the extra point and the Tornadoes led 22-8.
Philadelphia forced the Tigers to punt and set up another touchdown. This time, Johnson rammed his way up the middle for a three-yard TD run. Smith's kick was good and the Tornadoes led 29-8 with 2:51 left in the half.
The Tornadoes capped off a 28-point second burst when Lee Smith connected with Triq Patrick on a 43-yard touchdown pass play. Latimer Smith kicked the extra point and the Tornadoes carried a 35-8 lead in to the locker room at halftime.
Lee Smith went back to the air early in the third quarter as he hooked up with Georgio Grace on a 15-yard TD pass play. Latimer Smith kicked the extra point and the Tornadoes held a 42-8 lead with 5:34 remaining in the third quarter.
That would be the final score. Dyess played his younger players the rest of the way and ran out the clock.
Willis finished the night with 91 yards on 17 carries. He has 995 yards rushing for the season.
Philadelphia had a 14-8 edge in first downs. The Tornadoes rushed for 268 yards on 38 carries, and completed three passes for 65 to give them 333 total yards.
Jeremy Morgan had 105 yards rushing on seven carries. Lee Smith completed three-of-nine passing attempts for 65 yards. C.J. Johnson led the team in tackles with eight.
