Thursday March 28th, 2024 4:25PM

VIDEO: 'Balanced' West Hall thumps Chestatee

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

GAINESVILLE — It almost looked like West Hall was taking out its frustrations from a week ago on the Chestatee defense.

West Hall unleashed a devastating balanced attack behind quarterback Jacob Satterfield -- and got a stifling defensive effort to boot -- in taking a 42-3 win over Chestatee Friday night at Chestatee Stadium.

The Spartans (2-0) were held to just 68 yards rushing and 106 total yards the week before against Johnson. They finished with 200 yards on the ground by 10 different ball carriers, paced by 52 yards from Malcolm Prather, while Satterfield tossed a pair of touchdown passes and finished with 151 yards against the War Eagles (0-2) who had few answers against the speedy playmakers.

West Hall coach Tony Lotti was somewhat more pleased after this one.

“We probably had one of our best weeks of practice and they finally played like they practiced,” Lotti said. “We’re looking for that balance and I thought we did a good job from the execution to the play-calling. But we still have some things to work on.”

West Hall found that balance on the opening drive of the game. Kwon Williams and Tyquan Statham each had long runs on third down to keep the drive alive as the Spartans moved to the Chestatee 10. Satterfield, after a penalty nullified a touchdown pass, connected with Hykeem Bennett on the next play for a 20-yard score for a 7-0 lead with 6:32 left in the first quarter.

The Spartans defense forced a quick three-and-out and the offense went back to work. Darius Coleman Blair had a 31-yard gain into Chestatee territory and Tyrese Osborne took a had a screen pass from Satterfield and serpentined for a 35-yard touchdown for a 14-0 lead two minutes later.

The War Eagles finally got a spark with a 48-yard kickoff return by Nick Lyles, which was aided by a personal foul penalty on the Spartans to put Chestatee at the West Hall 35. A scramble by Storm Yarbrough and another personal foul on the Spartans moved the ball to the West Hall 19. But the drive stalled and Jaime Ortega capped the drive with a 35-yard field to cut the lead to 14-3 with 2:01 left in the first quarter.

It was all West Hall the rest of the way. The Spartans forced three Chestatee fumbles, recovering two, in the second quarter. On their first possession of the quarter the Spartans converted on two fourth downs, including a 4-yard touchdown run by Williams. Anthony Lotti added a 2-point conversion after a bad snap on the extra point try for a 22-3 lead.

The West Hall defense stuffed the War Eagles on their next drive and a bad snap on the punt attempt gave the Spartans the ball at the Chestatee 9. Osborne scored on the next play to make it 29-3 with 4:31 left in the half.

Even when things went well for the War Eagles it went all wrong. Yarbrough connected with Lyles for a 30-yard completion to midfield but the Spartans stripped the ball and Williams recovered at the West Hall 47.

West Hall capped the half driving to the Chestatee 11 and Israel Lopez drilled a 29-yard field goal with 2 seconds left for a 32-3 halftime lead. The Spartans displayed balance on offense with 151 yards passing and 136 yards rushing while the defense stifled the War Eagles holding them to just 23 total yards and minus-7 yards rushing in the first half.

The second half early on was more of the same as the Spartans forced a quick punt and then capped a 50-yard drive with a 25-yard Lopez field goal for a 35-3 lead less than minutes into the third quarter.

The War Eagles would punt again on their next drive but forced a West Hall fumble at the Spartans 25. But disaster struck again for Chestatee as Ashun Favorite picked off Yarbrough and returned it 95-yards for a touchdown for a 42-3 lead with 4:27 left in the third quarter.

The Spartans would cause five more fumbles, giving them 10 caused fumbles and eight recoveries in the first two games. Favorite’s interception gives them nine takeaways for the season.

“We want our defense to be stingy and they’re playing that way so far,” Lotti said. “I like how we’re forcing turnovers but we still need to take advantage of those a little better on offense.”

Chestatee finished with just 86 total yards. Jay Mays paced the War Eagles on the ground with 36 yards on eight carries but suffered a concussion in the third quarter and did not return after being taken off the field in an ambulance for precaution.

SCORING SUMMARY
West Hall....14....18....10....0 -- 42
Chestatee......3.....0......0....0 -- 3

First Quarter
WH -- Bennett 20 pass from Satterfield (Lopez kick) 7-0, 6:32
WH -- Osborne 35 pass from Satterfield (Lopez kick) 14-0, 4:30
CHS -- Ortega 35 FG 14-3, 2:01
 
Second Quarter
WH -- K. Williams 4 run (Lotti run) 22-3, 6:09
WH -- Osborne 9 run (Lopez kick) 29-3, 4:31
WH -- Lopez 29 FG 32-3, :02

Third Quarter
WH -- Lopez 25 FG 35-3, 9:44
WH -- Ash. Favorite 95 INT ret (Lopez kick) 42-3, 4:27

  • Associated Categories: Sports, High School Sports, Friday Game Night
  • Associated Tags: High school football, Commerce football, West Hall football
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