VHS Rolls Over Pinewood
Courtesy of VHS
The Vidalia High School Indians football team scored three times in the first quarter on Friday night to run out to a 22-0 lead and built on that momentum the rest of the game as they dominated the Pinewood Patriots 56-16 at Buck Cravey Field. The win by the Indians gave them their first 3-0 start since 2018, as they racked up 548 yards in total offense, including 322 yards on the ground. The Indians were led by junior Antonio Barron, who combined for 233 yards and ended the night with four touchdowns.
Vidalia wasted little time getting on the board, scoring their first touchdown just 2:48 into the game when Barron hit Kaleb Bennett on a 30-yard strike to give the Indians a 7-0 lead following Adam Crutchfield's PAT.
The Indian defense, which played strong all night long, allowing Pinewood just 134 total yards, got the ball back for the offense a short time later. This time, it was the ground game that gave Vidalia points as Sophomore A.J. McLendon went in from 11-yards out to make it 14-0 following Crutchfield's kick with 5:17 to go in the opening quarter.
But Vidalia was not through. Getting the ball back with just over 2-minutes to go in the first quarter, Barron threw his second touchdown pass of the night, hitting junior wide receiver Carson Ricks on a 14-yard hook up for Rick's first varsity touchdown. Vidalia then put the ball in McLendon's hands, who scored on a 2-point conversion to give the Indians a 22-0 lead with 1:08 to go in the quarter.
Vidalia scored three more times in the 2nd quarter, including a 1-yard run by Ahmelion Jones and Barron's first of two rushing touchdowns, a 54-yard run to make it 35-0. Vidalia's only hiccup in the first half came with 23-seconds to go in the half when Jackson Berry's pass intended for AJ McClendon was intercepted by Pinewood's Walker Todd for a touchdown making it 35-8 following a successful two-point conversion.
But the Indians answered right back, as Barron raced down the Indians' sideline for a 45-yard touchdown with just 9-seconds to go in the quarter, to make the score 42-8 at the half.
The second half saw a lot of young Indians get some quality playing time, as the Indians got two more touchdowns in the 3rd quarter, a Trey Adams 1-yard run to make it 49-8, and a Berry to Bennett throw and catch for 59-yards continued from page
to make it 56-8 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
Playing the 4th quarter under a running clock, Pinewood got their only offensive score of the game on a Wesley Tippins 2-yard run with 4:07 to go in the game to make the final score 56-16.
Barron finished the night with six carries for 127 yards on the ground, with two touchdowns, and 6 for 6 through the air for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Berry was 7 for 13 for 122 yards through the air, with a touchdown and an interception, while A.J. McLendon rushed for 122 yards on nine carries and one touchdown. Kaleb Bennett led all receivers with four catches and 128 yards, and two touchdowns.
The Indians will hit the road for the first time this season when they travel to Dexter to take on the West Laurens Raiders on Friday night, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
