By Gray Haynes
Friday night at Baucum-Farrar Stadium, the North Webster hosted the Richwood Rams as the Homecoming game for 2024. North Webster took the opening kickoff out to the 20 yard line. The offense couldn’t get anything going on the first series and was forced to punt. Richwood’s offense took over at their own 40 and managed negative 5 yards on three plays against a Knight’s defense that would be stingy all night. The Rams were forced to punt from their own 35. Kemo Jefferson fair caught the high punt at the North Webster 37. The Knights threw an interception that was returned to the 30 yard line. Three plays later, Richwood scored on an eight yard run. The two point conversion made the score 8-0 in favor of the visitor. The two teams traded punts to round out the first quarter. The second quarter was more of the same as the ball stayed between the thirty yard lines with neither team able to move the ball too well against two really good defenses.
Richwood took the second half kickoff out to the 30 yard line and went for it on a 4th and 3, but the Knight’s defense held strong. Three plays later, the Knights scored as J’Kobe Lawson sprinted past the defense for a 24 yard score from a wildcat formation. Lawson also took in the two point conversion to tie the score at 8. Richwood fell on the ensuing kickoff at the 25 yard line. After a bad snap was kicked and swatted around, the Knights fell on the fumble at the Ram’s 12. After a holding penalty pushed the Knights back into a 4th and long, they tried a 36 yard field goal, but the attempt was blocked. The visitors took over and were again forced to punt. Kemo Jefferson returned the punt 42 yards to the Richwood 34. The Knights picked up a first down, but they went for it on a 4th and 5 to begin the final period but were unsuccessful.
The North Webster defense held strong again and forced Richwood to punt again. North Webster took over at the Richwood 38 in the tied game. On a 4th and 2 from the 30 yard line, Kemo Jefferson, who appeared to be bottled up, somehow escaped from the pile and took the ball to paydirt. Lawson converted the two point attempt to give the Knights the lead at 16-8 midway through the final period. Richwood took over on offense and converted a long pass to take the ball into North Webster territory. When they tried another pass, Donte Owens intercepted the attempt at the goal line and returned it to the 32 yard line. The Knights couldn’t get anything going on offense and was forced to punt again. The Rams took over at their own 35. The Knights defense was called upon to make another big stop. They were up to the task and held the Rams on 4 pass attempts. The Knights offense trotted on the field with 12 seconds left to kneel on the ball to secure the win. The final score was North Webster 16 Richwood 8 on a warm homecoming night in Springhill. Next week, the Knights will face the Many Tigers.
