Lee, Stafford lead Yellowjackets to 42-6 win in region opener

By Neill Kirkpatrick

Special to the HSSR

Charleston – After suffering their first loss of the season to Hanahan (29-28) 10 days ago the Andrews Yellowjacket came to District 4 CCSD stadium ready to put that loss behind them as they scored on their first six possessions in route to a 42-6 win over Academic Magnet.

“We wanted to come out and jump on them early. We tell our kids to play to a standard not an opponent. I thought we did a good job of that and came out with a win,” said Andrews head coach Scott Durham.

The win in their region opener improved the Yellowjackets record to 5-1/1-0. They will host Woodland 4-2/0-1. The Wolverines dropped their region opener to Phillip Simmons 22-16.

The Raptors (3-3,0-1) will look get back on the winning track as they travel to Timberland 4-2/1-0, a 53-6 winner over Burke in their region opener Friday night.

Andrews offensive line led by junior Da’Viyon McNair and senior Jacolby Sanders opened up big holes from the start as the Yellowjackets went 80-yards in six plays to go up 8-0. Sophomore Dutch Stafford had four carries for 50 yards including a four-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Brandon Cumbee added the two-point conversion.

The Raptors came out strong on their first possession as sophomore quarterback Owen G. hit junior Tyler Perez for a 29-yard gain. On their next play disaster struck for the Raptors when G was hurt after gaining 12 yards to the Yellowjackets 26. From there, the Raptors went backwards and were forced to punt.

“Any time you lose your starting quarterback on the second play it is going to throw a wrinkle into your game plan. I felt like our back up came in and tried to settle things down, we just played a very good football team tonight,” said Raptors head coach Mitch White.

Andrews needed just five plays to increase their lead to 20-0. Junior AJ Lee scored on runs of 77 and 75 yards on back-to-back drives. Lee one of the top junior running backs in the state would finish the night with 230 yards and the two scores.

Stafford would score his second touchdown of the night on the Yellowjackets next possession while Cumbee would wrap up the first half scoring by hitting sophomore Kale Cannon with a 56-yard strike. The teams headed to the break with Andrews up 34-0.

Senior All State defensive end Khalil Dorsey spearheaded a defense that gave up only 79 yards of offense. Forty-one of the yards came on the Raptors first two plays. Junior Chris Stewart and senior Aden Cooper also spent a lot of time in the Raptors backfield.

“Our defense played well all night. We gave up a couple of plays but overall, I am happy with the effort,” said coach Durham.

The Yellowjackets scored their final touchdown on their opening possession of the second half when Cumbee scored from the run. On the drive Stafford had two carries for 51 yards and that put him over the century mark as finished the night with 87 yards.

Cumbee was a perfect 4 for 4 through the air for a 137 yards to go with 20 yards on the ground.

Down 42-0 the Raptors did not quit. They forced a turnover on the Yellowjackets next drive when senior Donovan Hamilton picked off a tipped pass falling to the ground and then they got on the scoreboard on the final play of the game when freshman Sam Peters ripped the ball from the Andrews ball carrier and returned it 65-yards for a touchdown.

“I am proud of the effort we gave night. The guys did not quit and we can build on that going into next week,” said Raptor head coach White.