RABBITTOWN — West Hall's defense was a brick wall on Friday, shutting down one of Class 4A's top passers and steamrolling to a 48-21 win over East Hall on Friday at East Hall Stadium.
The Spartans' (2-0) defense held East Hall (0-1) to 276 total yards while racking up 518 total yards of offense.
Tilil Blackwell was tough to tackle, rushing for 122 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns. Nick Sturm added two scores on 32 yards rushing and one passing, and Byron Brevil scored one.
Clete Cooper finished the night 8-of-24 passing for 142 yards and two touchdowns. He added another 70 yards rushing. Marcus Holmberg had 51 yards on seven carries.
West Hall coach Krofton Montgomery credited his offense's output to the offensive line.
"Offensive line played extremely well, and proud of my staff…you're only as good as your coaches that you surround yourself with," Montgomery said.
It's the first time since 2014 that the Spartans have started a season 2-0.
Montgomery says his senior group is the reason.
"These guys are the ones that had to go out and play the Marists and Blessed Trinitys two years ago and stuck with it," he said. "They've stayed the course. I'm just really proud of them."
But the win didn't come without a battle early on. The Spartans, like they did last season, jumped out to a two-touchdown lead, 14-0. But East Hall stormed back to tie the game at halftime, 14-14, on a 52-yard pass from Clete Cooper to Tyrone Buffington, and an Alex Stoudenmire interception for a touchdown with 2:03 to go.
"We did some stupid things for a minute -- the pick-six for a touchdown," Montgomery said. "We knew they were a quick-strike offense, but from there, we settled down."
The Spartans did, indeed, holding the Vikings to one score in the second half.
In the third quarter, the Spartans scored on a 53-yard run from Bevil, a 37 and 30-yard Henry Ruiz field goal, Sturm one-yard run and a 3-yard Blackwell run.
"They're focused and doing everything we've asked of them," Montgomery said. "We've still got some things we really have to improve on, but I'm just really proud of them. These guys have worked hard and are lasered focused."
