WMCS wins first-round playoff game against Deer Creek

WMCS wins first-round playoff game against Deer Creek

Black Knights advance to showdown with undefeated Tunica Academy

news@theeveningtimes.com

While the sports talk of the town centered on Blue Devil and Patriot seeding in the 6A state playoffs the defending MAIS A state champions, the Black Knights of West Memphis Christian School won its first-round game to advance in its quest for a repeat shot at the private school football crown behind three newly named All America football players.

The Black Knights slogged it out Friday Night on its home field turf to advance in the state championship playoffs. Thunder struck, Deer Creek went down to WMCS 34-14 in a rainy game interrupted by a 30-minute lightning delay. The Black Knights advanced in the MAIS A playoffs to play its undefeated and top seeded arch nemesis Tunica on Friday night.

The school also announced last week three star players were named All America. Malik Barrow, Parker Benson and Hunter Hicks received honors and represent the school in the National Athletic Association of Private Schools (NAAPS) game in January. The trio are the fist student athletes named NAAPS All America from the school.

“Those three will play in the private school hall of fame bowl in Gatlinburg January 6,” said head coach Marcus Davidson. “It’s my first year hearing of the honor. They’ve worked hard, and played hard to earn the recognition.”

Coach Davidson recapped the Deer Creek visit and noted ball handling became more challenging in the wet weather and sloppy field conditions as the game progressed. The Black Knights struck like lightning before a passing thunder storm forced a first quarter delay.

“Wet, cold, muddy and sloppy all showed up for the game,” mused Davidson. “We got the opening kickoff on our own 45 -yard line. Bam, Bam, five plays later we are in the end zone. We ran it down their throat with the option. Then hit a bootleg pass from Parker Benson to Hunter Hicks from 20 yards out and with the conversion went up 8-0. After the lightning delay the Black Knights gave up a pick six on a second and Deer creek tied the game answering with a two point try.

WMCS went into half up a touchdown at 22-14 and never looked back in the second half, shutting out Deer Creek in the second half. The wet weather made the ball slick to handle. He Black Knights worked the veer.

“We ran our option pretty well the rest of the night except for the wet ball, having some bad snaps and missed pitches,” we had more turnovers on the night than we had all year combined. It was pretty much wet and sloppy as it rained on us pretty much the whole game.”

Despite the turnovers the defense played shut-out football to finish the fight. The head coach expressed pride in the defense on a Black Knight team most feared for the offensive production.

“They never scored again and we put two more touchdowns on the board,” said Davidson.

The coach looked to the Friday rematch with Tunica. WMCs school lost its regular season match at an away. The Black Knights travel seeking play off vengeance. “We’ll see the same thing from Tunica we see every time,” said Davidson. “They’ve got three running backs that run strong and downhill. They are big upfront. They are real simper at what they do, but the execute well. They run it hard.” Davidson the Black Knights displayed focus for the big game between the two teams generally regarded as the best were bracketed to meet in the semi-final round.

“They feel like we let ourselves down when we played them before,” said Davidson. “The players are optimistic about it.”

Davison laid out the travel plans for fans in the event of a victory this week.

“If we pull the rematch out against Tunica we will play for the State Championship next Thursday the 15 in Jackson, Mississippi,” said Davidson.

By John Rech