Andrews – The chill in the air on Friday reminded everyone what time of year it is: playoff
time. The Andrews Yellow Jackets were ready from the start as they scored early and often to
defeat North Central 50-18 to advance into the second round of the AA playoffs.
The Yellow Jackets, who improved to 8-3 on the season, will travel to Varnville next week to do battle with 10-1 Hampton County,
a 33-7 winner over Bishop England on Friday
The Knights' season ended with a 4-7 record.
“We did a good job offensively except for the one turnover in the first half. Defensively, we
played great after their first series, “said Andrews head coach Scott Durham. “We like to play
tough, physical football and we did that all night. Once we settled in and made a couple of
adjustments, I liked the way we finished the game.
“We have a big challenge next week. Hampton County is a very good football team. They
are big and physical so we will need to play our best game of the year.”
Andrews got on the board first when North/South All-Star Lavon White scored from the
2-yard line. He then added the 2-point conversion to give the Yellow Jackets a lead they would never
relinquish 8-0.
North Central responded with a 9-play, 65-yard drive capped by Casey Shropshire's
3-yard touchdown run. Jonathan Clarkson had 47 yards on four carries during the drive.
The 2-point conversion was no good to leave the score at 8-6.
After an Andrews fumble into the end zone ended its second possession, the Yellow Jackets
would score the next 34 points to put the game away.
White would atone for his fumble by scoring the next Andrews touchdown on a 34-yard jaunt
through the Knights defense. He would leave the game early with an injury but not before adding
another 2-point conversion and rushing for over 100 yards on the night.
The Yellow Jackets' next score came on a third and 23 from their 17. Andrews called a go
route, and quarterback Brandon Cumbee hit Sherod Sumpter with a perfect pass, and Sumpter
outraced the Knights defense to score on an 83-yard bomb. The point after was no good and the
lead was 20-6.
Disaster struck North Central as it tried a fake punt, but they fumbled and Andrews' Xavier
Anderson picked up the ball at the 50 and returned for a touchdown. That made the score 26-6
after the conversion was no good.
The Yellow Jackets would score another before half when AJ Lee scored on a 32-yard run.
White would add his second 2-point conversion, giving Andrews a 34-6 lead at halftime.
Cumbee would push the lead to 42-6 when he scored on a 1-yard run. The big play on the
drive was a Cumbee-to-Sumpter hookup for 56 yards.
North Central scored twice in the span of nine seconds. First, Clarkson would score on a
15-yard run after a 65-yard fumble return by Shropshire set the Knights up at the Jackets 15. Then
on the Yellow Jackets' next possession, a fumbled snap was picked up Aiden Wiles and the
defensive tackle rumbled 50 yards for a touchdown and suddenly the score was 42-18.
Andrews restored order on its next drive, going 65 yards in seven plays with Lee scoring from
nine yards out. Brycen Cannon added the 2-point conversion to make it 50-18. Cumbee had a
47-yard run on the drive, and Lee went over 100 yards for the game on the drive.
Offensively, Cumbee passed for 138 yards and rushed for 85 yards, accounting for two scores,
while White and Lee each topped the century mark. Sumpter caught both of Cumbee’s passes for
138 yards, and he also had several big plays on defense.
The Yellow Jackets defense forced three turnovers and held the Knight offense to less than
150 yards on the night. Besides Anderson’s fumble recovery, Kayden Dorsey had two.
interceptions on the night. His first was in the end zone right before the half. They
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