After seeing their first game get postponed last week due to weather, the W.S. Neal Middle School football team kicked off their 2012 season Thursday at home with a 24-12 win over Excel to start the year 1-0.
The Eagles fell behind Excel early as the Panthers led 12-0 late in the first quarter, but scored 24 unanswered points to take down Excel by 12.
J.T. Lane got the Eagles on the board with a 75-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 12-6 after one quarter of play.
In the second quarter, Lane scored on a 55-yard run to tie the game at 12. The Eagles took an 18-12 lead over Excel at the half when Peyton Salter scored on a 7-yard run.
Neither team scored in the third quarter.
In the fourth, Lane added his third touchdown of the game, this one coming from 25 yards out to help the Eagles get the 24-12 win.
Lane finished with 201 yards on 17 carries and three touchdowns. Salter had 60 yards on nine carries and one touchdown. Kristian Taylor finished with 25 yards on six carries. Christian Wood finished with two carries for 12 yards and Kenny Walker added 17 yards on three carries.
W.S. Neal finished with 315 yards rushing in the win. Kenny Walker was 0-for-2 passing for the Eagles.
W.S. Neal will be back in action Tuesday at Florala at 6 p.m.