Lee tops Wildcats

After a scare from Fort Defiance last week, Robert E. Lee bounced back in a big way on Friday night, defeating Rockbridge County 34-7. Junior quarterback Devante White, who left last week’s game with an injury, played exceptionally for the Leemen, running for 179 yards and two touchdowns, while passing for another.

“I thought he played really well,” said Lee head coach David Tibbs about White. “It was one of those deals where he probably could’ve played more last week.”

White commanded his high-octane offense from the very beginning, breaking off a 28-yard run on Lee’s first snap of the game. Three plays later, Kevin Davis scored the first of five Leemen touchdowns.

Before the first quarter was over, White had added another touchdown for the Leemen, scoring on a 46-yard run.

After the Wildcats turned the ball over downs, White led his team 91 yards to the end zone. On the first play of the drive, junior Alishauan Hawkins picked up 30 yards, White tacked on a 31-yard run two plays later and after two straight penalties set the Leemen back, White put them back in business with a run that went for 18 yards. On second down and long, White’s 33-yard pass to senior Corey Curry gave Lee a 20-0 halftime lead.

White’s final touchdown of the night came on a nine-yard run in the third quarter, while Hawkins put the game out of reach for the Wildcats in the fourth. The junior ran for 45 yards in the final quarter of the game, 89 yards total, and scored the Leemen’s fifth and final touchdown with 9:41 remaining.

“Alishauan did a heck of a job,” said Tibbs. “It was a case where somebody else stepped up and had some big plays.”

The Leemen (6-3) can secure the Southern Valley District title with a win over Wilson Memorial next week.

The Wildcats (0-9) remained winless on the season, despite moving the ball effectively throughout the game. Sophomore running back Ling Zheng ran for 129 yards on 23 carries, while freshman Andrew Rowsey caught eight passes for 69 yards. Their downfall proved the be turnovers, as they turned the ball over on downs twice, and quarterback Blake Coffey was picked off in the endzone on two separate occasions after long, methodical drives.

Sophomore Quenten Youngblood scored the Wildcats’ lone touchdown on an interception return right before the clock ran out.