By CHARLIE HUST
A very strong Muhlenberg County squad delivered a knock-out blow in the first quarter and rolled to an easy 44-6 win, handing Webster County it’s first loss of the season Friday at Mustang Stadium in Greenville.
The Mustangs, led by former Trojan head Hayes Browning, used a powerful running game and a very stingy defense to race out to a commanding 26-0 lead in the first quarter.
Muhlenberg had 406 yards rushing and 59 via the air for a season-high 465 total against Webster to improve to 2-0 on the early season.
Six WCHS turnovers helped ignite the physical Mustang squad, including the first of three fumbles on Webster’s first possession of the game that led to a MC touchdown.
Muhlenberg’s star running back DeDraylan Hampton stole the show from that point, racing 52 yards on the first play of scrimmage to the WC 10-yard line. Four plays later, Kobe Drake punched it into the end zone from two yards out for the quick 7-0 lead and 9:32 left in the opening quarter.
Webster senior Chance Cook showed a bit of spark on the ensuing kickoff, racing 41 yards to the Muhlenberg 49. But Drake intercepted a pass from Dillon Baty on the first play of the possession and sprinted to the Webster 30 yard line. It was one of three interceptions for Baty in the contest as he finished 12-of-21 passing for 112 yards. Webster finished with 203 total yards and had turnovers on three of its first four possessions of the game.
The WCHS defense turned-in a very good showing after the interception, holding the high-powered Mustang offense out of the end zone as Baty dragged down Mustang quarter Hunter Combs for a big loss on a 4th-and-11 scramble and the Trojans gained possession of the ball on downs.
But the WCHS offense just couldn’t get anything going against a much stronger Mustang defense. Four quick plays and the Trojans turned the ball back over to MCHS, opening the door to the second TD of the quarter, this time from speedy halfback Demond Johnson. Another WC fumble led to a touchdown from Drake and Webster’s third fumble of the quarter allowed Muhlenberg to earn the 26-0 lead with :28.6 to go in the opening stanza on a 33-yard touchdown scramble from quarterback Hunter Combs.
Webster finally got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter courtesy of a fumble by the Mustangs. WC senior Levi Tapp scooped up the loose ball and the Trojans were in busy. A pass from Baty to junior receiver Jamon Warren covering 41 yards highlighted the five-play drive. Baty powered-in the TD from one yard out to trim the lead to 26-6 with 2:14 remaining in the half.
The Trojans had a chance to add to the total after another fumble recovery by Tapp at the Muhlenberg 38. But four straight incomplete passes killed the momentum.
Hampton then electrified the crowd and squashed any hopes of a Trojan comeback bid with a 67-yard touchdown scamper giving the Mustangs a commanding 32-6 lead at halftime.
While the Webster offense stalled for most of the second half, Muhlenberg got a touchdown from Drake in the third quarter and a nine-yard scoring run from Logan Franklin in the fourth period to set the final score.
Jamon Warren had another big night as Webster’s top receiver, snagging nine receptions for a game-high 83 yards. Levi Tapp led the Trojans with nine solo tackles while freshman linebacker Clayton Oliver added seven.
Webster is back in action Friday, traveling to Morganfield to take on Union County. The Braves were walloped by high-flying Caldwell County 62-27 in their season-opener last week.