RAIDERS JUST TOO STRONG FOR ‘NECKS | Pratt shows out with three TD passes in 44-7 West Rusk win
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is the first ever story written by a new member of our staff, Chris Robuck! We’re happy to have you on staff, Chris!
WHITE OAK – On a gorgeous September evening in East Texas, the 0-4 White Oak Roughnecks played host to the 3-1 Raiders of West Rusk.
It would be a rough outing for the Roughnecks, as the surging Raiders came in riding back to back decisive wins over Garrison and Gladewater. Although West Rusk was missing explosive wide receiver Kameron Brown, their freshman quarterback, Trig Pratt, was ready to step in and lead the Raiders to victory. Trig Pratt took matters into his own hands connecting for three first half touchdown passes to silence the Roughneck fans early, and ultimately take a 44-7 win.
Both teams will have a week off before jumping into district. On October 9, White Oak will be traveling to Texarkana to face Liberty Eylau, and the Raiders will go to Arp to take on the Tigers.
There was quite the buzz in the visiting crowd about this young quarterback.
Pratt proved it to be right on the money.
He connected with Gunner Harp twice in the first quarter for 20 and 40-yard touchdown receptions. West Rusk showed no signs of slowing down on this night. The Raiders did miss on a two-point conversion, and would end up scoring two more times before the half ended, including an electric 84-yard touchdown catch and run from Kemontrea McGregor.
The second half, although slower paced, did have its own excitement.
The Raiders scored on a punt return and had an amazing interception to save a White Oak touchdown. The Raiders dominated the contest, committing very little mistakes and playing suffocating defense that led to that 44-7 win, their third straight.
The White Oak Roughnecks have now lost five straight and fall to 0-5. Despite the loss first-year coach Tanner Thiel’s young men played with heart and grit from whistle to whistle. The White Oak home crowd stood firmly behind their team through all the ups and downs.
Unfortunately for White Oak and its fans, this evening was to be an almost impossible task for the Roughnecks.
Both of White Oak’s first two possessions ended with a turnover on downs. White Oak quarterback TJ Jackson tried repeatedly to find holes in the West Rusk defensive front, but ultimately unable to produce much positive yardage.
Jackson, an extremely athletic young man, had bright moments, especially when he was able to break out of the pocket and use his athleticism to create plays. The Roughneck defense was able to create a couple of turnovers, however, the offense was unable to convert them into points. The home team was able to break through in the end for their only points on a screen from Jackson to wide receiver Angel Mejia.
The game began with a White Oak onside kick. After multiple fourth-down conversions, the Raiders were able to score on a 20-yard pass from Pratt to Harp.
After a White Oak turnover on downs, West Rusk pushed the ball down the field and scored again on the Pratt/Harp connection from 40 yards out this time.
The West Rusk defense forced another turnover on downs on a failed QB sneak. The Raiders marched down the field as the quarter ended with West Rusk sitting with fourth-and-1 at the Roughnecks’ 5-yard-line.
As the second quarter began, the Raiders would convert the fourth-and-1, and then hand the ball to Caiden Landon for a 1-yard touchdown run.
White Oak would get the ball back and go 3 and out. However, a spark of energy as they force a Raider fumble on the ensuing punt, recovered by the Roughnecks’ Tysen McClain.
The ‘Necks would end up turning the ball back over to the Raiders as a fourth-down pass would come up 2 yards shy of the first down.
The following possession by the Raiders would produce a second bright spot for the Roughneck defense as they forced another fumble; this time after a catch, and was recovered by the Roughnecks’ Jacob Watson.
White Oak tried to move the ball, but again had to to punt back to the Raiders.
With just under five minutes left in the half, West Rusk has the ball on its own 16, which would lead to the play of the night. Pratt turns to his left and fired a bullet to McGregor. McGregor turned up field and hit the jets for an 84-yard touchdown catch-and-run.
With one final possession in the first half, White Oak quarterback Mason Wright came into the game, connected on a couple passes but ultimately ended up intercepted by West Rusk’s Chris Sanchez. The half ends with West Rusk in front, 27-0.
Already down big, White Oak came out with no fear in their eyes. All said, the second half was a much better effort as a whole from the home team. Unfortunately , an early second half possession by White Oak would end in an interception that was returned inside their own 20.
White Oak’s defense stiffened and hold West Rusk to only a field goal, which stretched the Raiders’ lead to 30-0.
The remainder of the third quarter would result in multiple punts. The monotony ended, however, when Raiders’ McGregor took a Roughneck punt to the house with 49 seconds on the clock. The third quarter ended 37-0 Raiders.
The Roughnecks started the fourth quarter with a strong drive, which ended with an amazing touchdown-saving interception at the Raider 1. The Raiders would methodically push the ball 77 yards downfield. Capping this drive and a dominant evening at Roughneck Stadium with a 23-yard touchdown run from DeQuaylyn Coleman.
Even in the face of such adversity, the Roughnecks refused to give up and you could tell they wanted to give the fans something to smile about. Jackson would lead the ‘Necks on one final drive that would culminate in a screen pass to Mejia for the only Roughneck points of the evening.
At the end of the day, the White Oak Roughnecks looked to be a bit overmatched by a very confident West Rusk team. But the White Oak fans create a wonderful atmosphere for Friday night lights and you can tell their players feed off that energy.
Down but never giving in, the Roughnecks gave their fans a little something to smile about in the end. As for the West Rusk Raiders, they seem to have a very bright present and future with Trig Pratt at the helm.