The Spartans put on a dominating performance Friday night at Spartans Stadium rushing for 395 yards and holding Banks County to just two first downs in a 48-13 win over the Leopards in both teams' region opener.
West Hall coach Tony Lotti stopped short of saying they were making a statement to the rest of the region but knows teams will be taking notice of what they are doing.
"It's always good to get a win, especially with this being the first region game," he said. "We're not worried about any statements or anything like that. We're just trying to get better and win games. But we have had a lot of success the last two games and I'm sure people are watching and will try to find a way to stop us."
Kwon Williams had another huge night running the ball for the Spartans. The sophomore rushed for 180 yards and four touchdowns on six carries. He had a career night last week with 202 yards and has reached the end zone seven times on just 13 carries the past two weeks.
As for Williams, Lotti did not hold back about what Williams has meant to the offense so far this season.
"He's just starting to come into his own. He's quick and has great instincts. We feel confident with him back there," Lotti said.
The Spartans (3-1, 1-0 Region 7-AAA) will face another region challenge next week traveling to Blue Ridge to take on Fannin County.
The West Hall defense had another solid day, particularly in the first quarter and early part of the second quarter when the Spartans built their lead. They held the Leopards (0-4, 0-1) to no first downs and just 45 yards in the first half and forced six straight three-and-out possessions.
"The defense did a good job of not letting them get going," Lotti said.
West Hall wasted little time in unleashing its ground attack as Williams took a pitch around the right end on the first play of the game and outraced the Leopards defense for a 57-yard touchdown run just 18 seconds into the game.
After stopping Banks County on a three-and-out on its first possession, the Spartans looked to be in business again after a long punt return by Williams to the Banks County 19. But the Spartans would fumble on the next play.
West Hall would stop Banks County on three plays again but would give the ball back when Williams fumbled the punt. The Spartans defense would again stuff the Leopards on three plays and then Tyquan Statham would cap another quick drive racing 31-yards down the left sideline for a 14-0 lead with just 1:51 left in the first quarter.
West Hall racked up 131 yards rushing in the opening period while the defense held the Leopards to just 30 total yards and no first downs.
West Hall would make it 21-0 in the second quarter when Williams knifed his way through the Banks County defense on a 34-yard touchdown run.
Antonio Pittman would make it 28-0 West Hall with 5:38 left on a 5-yard touchdown run. His score was set up by a 19-yard run by Jay Crawford down to the Leopards 5.
Lotti said the stable of running backs that can all produce has paid dividends so far.
"We bring guys in to keep everyone fresh and each guy is making a play," he said. "We have confidence in all of them."
The Spartans would push the lead to 35-0 when Williams took a pitch around left end for 60 yards with 2:41 left in the first half. After recovering a Banks County fumble, the Spartans closed out the half with a 13-yard TD pass from Zach English to Hunter Atkinson with just 33 seconds left for a 41-0 lead.
Williams would add his fourth score of the game late in the third quarter with a 24-yard, slicing run through the Banks County defense to give the Spartans a 48-0 lead.
Banks County finally got on the board in the fourth quarter when Noah Trebec connected with Austin Segars on a 14-yard TD pass on fourth down with 8:40 left. The Spartans nearly kept the shutout intact when a defender batted the ball away but Segars was able to snare the ball out of the air in the end zone.
The Leopards got a late score when Griffin Goodwin hit Zezmon Steeple on a crossing pass that Steeple turned into a 71-yard score with 17 seconds left in the game to make the final score 48-13.
NOTES: The Spartans' Williams is averaging 29.3 yards a carry over the past two games. . .The win for the Spartans matched their entire win total from a year ago. . .The four-game losing streak for Banks County is the first since the 2009 season when the Leopards lost their final six games.
SCORING SUMMARY
Banks Co.....0....0....0....13 -- 13
West Hall.....14.....27....7....0 -- 48
First Quarter
WH -- Williams 57 run (Hodgson kick) 7-0, 11:42
WH -- Statham 31 run (Hodgson kick) 14-0, 1:51
Second Quarter
WH -- Williams 34 run (Hodgson kick) 21-0, 8:57
WH -- A. Pittman 5 run (Hodgson kick) 28-0, 5:38
WH -- Williams 60 run (Hodgson kick) 35-0, 2:41
WH -- Atkinson 13 pass from English (kick failed) 41-0, 0:33
Third Quarter
WH -- Williams 24 run (Hodgson kick) 48-0, 2:26
Fourth Quarter
BC -- Segars 14 pass from Trebec (kick failed) 48-6, 8:40
BC -- Steeple 71 pass from Goodwin (kick good) 48-13, 0:17
West Hall's Kwon Williams (4) motors away from Banks County defenders on Friday in the Spartans' win in Oakwood.
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