FISHERSVILLE – Wilson Memorial took advantage of two huge special teams’ plays in the first half to lead 14-0 at halftime and the Hornets finished Spotswood off in the second half, winning 28-0.

“It’s been a while since Wilson had a shutout on this field,” Byrd said. “Having a bye in the first week, we’ve been throwing a lot at the guys. They went out and executed. A lot of guys stepped up.”

Wilson’s last shutout victory on its home turf came in the season-opener in the 2019 season when the Hornets blanked Page County, 53-0.

Wilson’s first score of the night was set up by Keyvon Jones with a long punt return. Jones fielded the ball just past midfield and returned the punt to Spotswood 12. Clinton Coffey, who led the Hornets with 72 yards on 13 carries, capped the drive with a 4-yard run for a 7-0 Wilson lead with 6:55 left in the first quarter.

The Hornets’ punt return team came up huge again, midway through the second quarter, when they snuffed out a fake punt to give the offense the ball at the Spotswood 30-yard line.

“We told the guys to watch for the rugby punt,” said Byrd. “Everyone was in the right place on that play.”

The Hornets went for the deep ball on the next play and quarterback Logan Podgorski connected with Isaiah Scott for a 30-yard TD pass and a 14-0 lead.

Wilson had chances to put the game away in the first half but squandered two short-field opportunities. 

Following Scott’s TD reception, the Blazers fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Wilson’s Andrew Haley recovered at the Spotswood 16. The drive was short-circuited by a penalty that moved the ball back to the 28 and Wilson came away empty-handed.

The Hornets defense came up with a turnover on the next series when Gabriele Scott stripped the football away from a Spotswood ball-carrier at the Wilson 44 and scampered down the sideline to the Spotswood 18. A long field goal attempt by Maddox Woods on the final play of the half came up short.

Wilson’s defense came away with another turnover early in the third quarter when Aiden Jordan stepped in front of a pass at the Wilson 41 and returned the interception to the Spotswood 35. Wilson kept the ball on the ground and Matthew Sisk scored on a 1-yard plunge, making the score 21-0.

Wilson’s final score came late in the third quarter when backup freshman quarterback Cole Kindig connected with receiver Nolan Deaver in the end zone to complete a 27-yard scoring pass.

Kindig was forced into action when Podgorski left the game with what appeared to be a minor i injury. “We’ve got a lot of older guys on the team, but as coaches, we have to get the young guys ready. Cole gets a lot of reps with the first team in practice,” said Byrd.

While there was plenty to like about the victory, there is plenty for the Hornets to clean up before next week’s district opener at Buffalo Gap.

Penalties, several in the 15-yard category, hampered the Hornets throughout the game.

“That will be addressed this week,” said Byrd. “We’ve got a tough schedule and if we can afford those mistakes.”