WATTS, Okla -- The Watts Engineers turned in a dominant first half in front of a home crowd to defeat the Cave Springs Hornets 44-6 on Friday night.
The Engineers started the game off by keeping the Hornets to a first series three-and-out before scoring twice in a row. The team set the pace with a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Clayton Mitchell to sophomore Blayn Harlin six plays into the first drive. Mitchell set up the pass with three runs of more than 10 yards each.
After Watts' unsuccessful two point conversion attempt, the Engineers came out with a surprise onside kick and recovered to set up another possession, this time in Cave Springs territory.
This drive only took two plays, after a 30-yard completion from Mitchell to Harlin to get within five yards of the goal line. Harlin took a handoff to the right and blasted his way into the end zone. Another missed two point conversion later, and the Engineers led 12-0.
The Hornets were not out of it yet, however, and Peyton Tate ran in a 37-yard touchdown to bring Cave Springs within a score on the second play of the ensuing drive. The Hornets were also unsuccessful at their two-point attempt.
Watts (6-1, 1-1 District B-8) kept up the frenetic scoring pace with another touchdown three plays later. After a pair of runs by junior Danny Fernandez, which added up to 20 yards, senior running back Dillon Johnson rumbled through three tackles to hit paydirt from 20 yards out.
Cave Springs' next drive only went for seven yards after a facemask call on Watts was negated by a called chop block and a sack. Watts kept its foot on the gas, scoring again in four plays. Mitchell set up a Fernandez touchdown run with a 36-yard carry. Fernandez scored a few plays later from eight yards out to make it 24-6.
The Hornets (1-6, 0-2) started off the second half with a Tate fumble, which Watts turned into six points on a touchdown throw to senior Zack Johnson.
From there, the Engineers controlled the game, as Watts' defense forced a turnover on downs on a fake punt and then a fumble on the next two Hornets drives. Watts capitalized with a touchdown from senior Cory Couch and Fernandez to finish the game's scoring.
All of the game's scoring came in the first half, partly because Watts coach Matt Stilwell started rotating younger players in on offense. But he still said his team had some work to do.
"We have to learn how to finish games, no matter who is out there," Stilwell said after the final whistle had blown.
The win brings the Engineers to a 6-1 mark, after a tough loss last week to Arkoma in overtime.
"I can't be more proud of the kids after what they've had to endure in previous years," Stilwell said. "We came back from a tough loss, the kids responded well after that bitter pill."
Watts returns to action Thursday at Porum.
General News on 10/16/2016