Ashford overpowers Houston County

COLUMBIA — Ashford led Houston County 7-6 midway through the second quarter when Yellow Jacket quarterback Charlton Pope faked a handoff, rolled to his left, looked up and saw a man so wide open he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“I was thinking ‘Oh man, I can’t mess this up. Just make sure you get the ball to him,’ ” Pope said.

There, far behind the Lion secondary, Jeremy Enfinger looked back and hauled in a strike from Pope. Enfinger raced the rest of the way untouched for an 82-yard touchdown reception. From there, the Yellow Jackets wore down an outmanned Houston County team for a 31-12 win.

“I was very pleased with our performance and effort,” said Ashford coach Lester Bratcher, whose team led 21-6 at halftime and controlled the ball for almost the entire third quarter, leading 31-6 entering the final period before the Lions added a late score.

Meanwhile, the Lions managed one sustained drive before the heavy humidity began to take its toll. In the fourth quarter, wide receiver Edward Robinson began suffering severe cramps and was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Lion head coach Jarrod Wooten said quarterback Desmond Warren was headed to the hospital after the game due to dehydration as well.

“We just ran out of gas,” said Wooten, who added the Lions were already without linemen Ray Jackson and Tim Wells due to injury. “I stressed to them Wednesday and Thursday that conditioning would be the key. We’ve got to get in better shape.”

Ashford scored on its first drive, going 80 yards in 11 plays. Demichael Wigfall scored on a 1-yard plunge for a 7-0 lead. Ashford was on its way again on the next drive, but a Yellow Jacket fumble set up the Lions’ best drive of the game.

The running of Kenny Barber and Darnell Robinson, combined with the scrambling of Warren, helped the Lions drive 80 yards for a score. On third-and-goal from the Ashford 4, Warren dropped back to pass, but his receivers were covered. He made a Yellow Jacket defender miss and squirted into the end zone for a score. The extra point failed, and Ashford led 7-6 early in the second quarter.

That’s when Pope found Enfinger for the 82-yard score. Four minutes later, Ashford put the game away when Mike Ray took a handoff off right tackle and flashed through the Lion defense for a 58-yard touchdown and a 21-6 lead. Ashford added a third-quarter score on a 5-yard run by Malvin Anderson. Later, Jeremy McInnish added a 23-yard field goal.

Houston County’s final score came on a 3-yard run by Darnell Robinson.

Pope finished the game 6-of-11 for 224 yards and a score. Ray added 137 yards rushing. Jonathan Hughes had a sack and fumble recovery for the Jackets.