Black Knights fall to Desoto

West Memphis Christian outmanned with short roster

news@theeveningtimes.com

Friday the 13th proved to be unlucky for WMCS football. The West Memphis Christian Black Knights fell on the road to the Desoto School Eagles of West Helena last Friday night.

The Black Knight offense scored the opening salvo, but the second-ranked Eagles shut down the scoring after that, with a bend-butdon’t- break defense in a 48-6 route of WMCS.

“We jumped on top of them 6-0 but their numbers took over with twenty plus players,” said Black Knights football coach Murray Rhodes. “We had good drives but came up empty in the red zone after that.”

Coach Rhodes noted the output of his senior tailback and junior quarterback.

“Our tailback Mathew Land had over 100 yards rushing,” said Rhodes.

“He had a big game. He was fired up, but we just couldn’t get it in the endzone. Ryan Stewart, our quarterback was the next most productive player.”

On the defensive side of the ball, one Black Knight player caught the coaches’ eye with improved play against a stout, highly rated offense. Desoto School ran through the porous Black Knights defense.

“The one that got the ‘most better,’ showed the best personal improvement, was senior Sam Ritter,” said Rhodes. “He had some good tackles. It was a good game for him despite the team defense, which played about as bad as you can play before stiffening at the end.”

The Black Knights found themselves on another 11-man football-sized field and the Eagles ran fresh substitutes up against the tiny WMCS roster the entire game. Only nine players suited up for the outing for the Knights.

Looking ahead doesn’t appear much better for the squad, with one key player scheduled out for a hunting trip the next two weeks.

WMCS will face its next two opponents with no substitutes.

“We are down to eight,” said Rhodes. “I wish we were firing on all cylinders and had everybody here.”

WMCS will host arch rival Lee Academy this Friday. Coach Rhodes will cut the size of the field to regulation 8 man size to take advantage of his squad’s strength and size. The coach hoped the narrower field would cut down on big outside plays and funnel action into the strength of his defensive interior.