By By Adam Robinson
sports editor
Jeremy Nicholson rushed for 242 yards and two touchdowns and had 328 all purpose yards with an 86-yard kickoff return to give W.S. Neal a 24-10 win over Monroe County Thursday night in Monroeville to open the 2009 season with a win.
The losing streak Nicholson referred to was the five-game losing streak the Eagles endured to end the 2008 season with a 2-8 record.
First year W.S. Neal head coach Kevin Jordan, who was doused with Gatorade by his players in the locker room after the win said he was happy to get the win to open the season.
The Eagle offense racked up 395 total yards of offense, with 351 coming on the ground and 44 in the air. The Eagles had 19 total first downs in the 14-point win.
Jordan said his team’s offensive play was really erratic early.
The Eagle defense, after giving up three straight runs of 20 yards each to open the game, held Monroe County out of the end zone early and gave up only 10 points in the game with three coming in the first half.
The Eagles gave up only 189 total yards of offense with Monroe County getting 69 on the ground and 120 in the air. Fifty two yards came on two of the final three plays of the game.
As for Nicholson’s performance in the game, Jordan liked what he saw.
While the win was the first of the season for the Eagles, it was also Jordan’s first as a head coach.
W.S. Neal will take on the Clarke County Bulldogs next week in Grove Hill for the first region game of the 2009 season for both teams.
At Monroeville
WSN- 0 6 12 6-24
MCHS-0 3 7 0-10
WSN-Alexander 14-yard pass reception from Godwin (kick failed)
MC-Raymond 27-yard field goal
MC-McMillian 7-yard run (Raymond kick)
WSN-Nicholson 86-yard kickoff return (kick failed)
WSN-Nicholson 67-yard rush (2 pt. attempt failed)
WSN-Nicholson 11-yard rush (kick failed)