Wildcats shutout Gryphons

Valdese- A 23-point swing of momentum brought the Draughn football team's offense to life after a sluggish first quarter.

With rushing scores by Eli Tillery and Justice Cunningham and two scoring connections from Tillery to Zach Pinkerton, the Wildcats were able to celebrate a 43-0 win over visiting Thomas Jefferson Academy.

"It was just the O-Line that helped me out," said Cunningham, finishing with a career-high 111 rushing yards on 15 carries.

Following an interception on defense by Connor Pinkerton, Tillery found a new groove of momentum taking off on a 77-yard quarterback keeper to give Draughn a 7-0 lead after the PAT kick by Sterling Radabaugh.

It all followed with a Cunningham 18-yard run, a Tillery to Zach Pinkerton 53-yard connection, and a safety off a botched Gryphons punt to build up a strong lead.

The Wildcats just kept it rolling in the third quarter with Tillery and Zach Pinkerton hooking up again on an 80-yard reception and Cunningham adding a five-yard touchdown run.

Donnell Wilkins added a three-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter set up by a 14-yard pass between John Robert Abernathy and Skylar Hudson.

Wilkins was also a key Wildcat defender along with Connor Pinkerton (TFL, INT), Kelton Mitchell (sack), Luke Rector (TFL), Elijah Pritchard (pass breakup), Marshall Brinkley (INT), Will Price, Bryan Sanchez, and Hampton Blackwell.

Rudy Mendoza also shared kicking duties with Radabaugh making two PATs in the second half.

"Overall defense played more aggressively than last year, we played well as a team," said Wilkins.

Draughn head football coach Chris Powell, beginning his fifth season at the helm of the Wildcats, was overall pleased with this win.

"It took us a quarter to get going and the guys up front made it a different ball game," said Powell. "I was pleased with the way our kids played."

The Wildcats next venture to Patton for a week two county rivalry matchup

DRAUGHN 43, THOMAS JEFFERSON 0

TJ 0 0 0 0 - 0

D 0 23 13 7 - 43

First Quarter

None

Second Quarter

D - Eli Tillery 77 run (Sterling Radabaugh kick)

D - Justice Cunningham 18 run (kick failed)

D - Zach Pinkerton 53 pass from Tillery (Cunningham run)

D- Safety

Third Quarter

D- Pinkerton 80 pass from Tillery (Rudy Mendoza kick)

D- Cunningham 5 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

D- Donnell Wilkins 3 run (Mendoza kick)

Rushing

Cunningham 15-111, 2 TD

Tillery 4-80, TD

Wilkins 6-23, TD

Passing

Tillery 8/20, 217 yards, 2 TD, INT

John Robert Abernathy 1/1, 14 yards

Receiving

Pinkerton 3-137, 2 TD

Elijah Pritchard 2-35

Radabaugh 2-25

Tywan Nemorin 1-20

Skylar Hudson 1-14