(FREE) Booker T. Washington Tops Del City
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BOOKER T. WASHINGTON 39, Del City 26 |
Booker T. Washington downed Del City on the road Friday night 39-26 after trailing at halftime. The Hornets scored four unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter to lift past the Eagles.
TURNING POINT |
Either team struggled to find footing on the other, with the first half coming down to exceptional defense and special teams from both squads; just when it felt the Hornets found an edge, the Eagles pushed back, and vice versa. Headed into the halftime break, a score from Del City quarterback Virgil Yates Virgil Yates 5'10" | ATH Del City | 2022 State OK following a 73-yard drive gave the Eagles their first lead of the night with 11 seconds to go in the quarter.
However, the Hornets struck quick out of the gate in the second half, with Lathan Boone Lathan Boone 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Booker T Washington | 2023 State OK completing a 65-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Drew Jordan Drew 6'1" | ATH Booker T Washington | 2022 State OK as Booker T. Washington accrued a 19-14 lead.
The turning point came a few minutes after Drew’s touchdown, on Booker T. Washington’s subsequent possession, when Hornets specialist Jackson Marsh Jackson Marsh 6'1" | K Booker T Washington | 2022 State OK sent a net 48-yard punt deep into Del City’s territory as the Eagles stumbled to recover the punt at their own 5 yard-line. A quick three-and-out later, the Hornets regained possession only 32 yards away from the end zone.
After a short gain and a dead ball penalty stretching the field only slightly longer for the Hornets, Boone connected with Micah Tease Micah Tease 6'1" | WR Booker T Washington | 2023 State OK on a 34-yard score, and Marsh’s point-after gave Booker T. Washington a 26-14 lead with 3:07 to go in the third quarter.
Although the Eagles made a try at a comeback late in the game, fate would have it in the Hornets’ favor.
PLAYER OF THE GAME |
Lathan Boone Lathan Boone 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Booker T Washington | 2023 State OK | QB | Booker T. Washington ’23 |
Following a first half in which he only connected on two-of-14 downfield passes, Boone made the proper halftime adjustments to finish the game 14-of-24 for two touchdowns in the air and 233 yards passing while also contributing on the ground for the Hornets, picking up a couple important first downs with his wheels.
Albeit, Boone’s productivity is amplified by his plethora of options, but he has an impressive skill-set regardless. Boone has great vision on the field, especially when the game slows down for him. He also handles pressure exceptional well, which there was no shortage of via the Eagles defense. In that second half, Boone did a great job of finding targets in open space and distributing the ball in a way that not only kept his receivers injury-free, but also gave them the room for playmaking that makes this Hornets team so dynamic.
QUOTABLE |
“I talked to [Boone], as well, just told him to calm down, let the game come to him, and just makes the passes like he knows how to make the passes,” said Hornets coach Jonathan Brown,
“The game kind of slowed down to me second half. First half, we were kind of rushing, but we just had to let the game slow down and execute offensively,” Boone said.