Screaming Devils Give It All In Championship Game

Photos by Rasheeda Usry

At the beginning of the 2015 season, many expected that the Warren County Middle School Screaming Devils would struggle to win even one game this Season. According to Coach Johnson, some area coaches even pointed to the schedule at the summer meeting and pointed out the games that would not even be close. Instead of entering the season with an already defeated mindset, Coach Johnson used the words of those familiar with the program as motivation to prove the naysayers wrong.

Wednesday's league championship game at The Brickyard in Thomson was the culmination of a season spent proving that the Screaming Devils, while small in number, could make big things happen. The Screaming Devils lost only one game in the regular season and proved to most everyone that these Devils are ready to compete with anyone.

The championship game saw Warren County matched up once again with the only team that they had lost to all year. Thomson defeated the Screaming Devils by the score of 20-8 in the final game of the regular season at Albert J. Massey Field in Warrenton.

Warren County took the opening kickoff and struggled to get their offense going in their first possession. Coach Johnson decided to gamble early in the game and went for it on 4th and about 5 from the Warren County 35 yard line. The Bulldogs stopped the Devils for a loss on the play and took over with excellent field position on the Warren County 33.

The Bulldogs quickly took advantage of the short field and scored their first points of the contest on a one yard run by Casey Donald. The two point conversion was good and Thomson held an 8-0 lead with 3:49 to go in the first quarter.

Coach Johnson had stated before the game that he felt his best defense against Thomson would be to keep his offense on the field. That is exactly what his team did in their second possession. After the ensuing kickoff, the Devils offense took the field at their own 34 yard line. Warren County then put together a drive that went 66 yards and kept the ball out of the hands of the Thomson offense for seven minutes and 48 seconds. The drive was capped off by a two yard touchdown run by Justin Allen. The two point conversion was no good, and Thomson held an 8-6 lead with 4:01 to go in the first half.

Lavosea Carroll would give Warren County another opportunity to put points on the board late in the second quarter when he intercepted a pass for the Screaming Devils near mid field. The Devils were unable to move the football however, and turned the ball back over to the Bulldogs with a little over a minute to go in the half.

Thomson moved the ball down to the one yard line before punching it in on fourth down with only 9 seconds to go in the half. The touchdown and two point conversion made the score 16-6 at the half.

With Carroll struggling from the effects of an injury sustained last week, the Devils found it difficult to mount a charge in the second half. The number of Warren County players who play both offense and defense began to take its toll as the game progressed.  The Bulldogs posted 18 points in the second half to win the game by the score of 34-6.

The loss didn't dampen the spirits of neither the Warren County coaches or players. Assistant Coach, Jack Jennings stated, "This is only our first year together as a staff and we made it all the way to the big game."

Lincoln County's Winning Streak Continues

Lincoln County's dominance over Warren County on the football field continued for another year last Friday night. Lincoln County once again won the annual battle of the Devils by the score of 31-0. Warren County entered the game with a team that was short handed and hampered by injuries. Missing from the Screaming Devil line-up were My'Quan Loney, Stedman Hall, and Timothy Seals.

While Warren County's offense struggled to get anything going in the first quarter, the Red Devils had no problem moving the ball. Lincoln County scored three times in the first quarter and led 17-0 at the horn. The Red Devils added more points late in the second quarter with a 6 yard run by Quay Hartfield to extend their lead to 24-0 at the half. The final score of the game for Lincoln County came in the third quarter when Hartfield broke a 48 yard run for a touchdown. The score and extra point pushed the Red Devil lead to 31-0.

Jaden Hawkins was the leading rusher in a Warren County offense that struggled to gain yardage against the Red Devils. Hawkins rushed for 39 yards on 12 carries. Jermaine Berry added 18 yards on 14 carries.

The Screaming Devils will try to regain their winning ways this week when Hancock Central comes to town. This week's game against the Bulldogs will be homecoming for Warren County. Game time is set for 7:30 at Albert J. Massey Field.

Game Time Change....

The game time for tonight's game between the Screaming Devils and the Red Devils of Lincoln County has been changed. In an effort to beat the expected rain and bad weather, both schools have agreed to change the start of the game from 7:30 to 6:00. Tonight's game will be played at Buddy Bufford Field in Lincolnton.

WCMS Clips The Hawks

Photos by Rasheeda Usry

Jarrius Burnett leaps and bats down a pass.

The Warren County Middle School Screaming Devils defeated the T.J. Elder Middle School Hawks of Washington County for the second time this season Wednesday afternoon. The win advanced the Devils to a championship game rematch with Thomson Middle school in the Brickyard next Wednesday afternoon.

Washington County kicked off to start the game and Warren County wasted no time in proving why the Wing-T offense is still effective today. The Devils slowly and methodically marched the ball all the way down the field and scored on a run by Lavosea Carroll. The opening drive by the Devils left less than 2:30 to go in the first quarter. The two point conversion was no good and Warren County led by the score of 6-0.

Lavosea Carroll eyes the end zone for the Devils.

Washington County came right back however and orchestrated a quick scoring drive of their own to put points on the board before the end of the first period. Their two point conversion was good and the Hawks led 8-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Both offenses struggled to move the ball throughout the 2nd quarter. Carroll finally found some running room for the Devils late in the period. On 4th and 8 from the Warren County 38 yard line, Carroll ran a sweep to the near sideline and went the distance for a 62 yard touchdown. The two point conversion failed again and Warren County led 12-8. 

Carroll finds the sideline for a 62 yard touchdown.

The Hawks came out moving the ball in the third quarter and threatened to put points on the board early. Jatavian Allen ended the drive when he intercepted an 18 yard Hawks pass in the end zone to give the Devils the ball at the 20.

The Devils' Wing-T offense did its job and kept the ball out of the hands of the Hawks. Neither team would score again and Warren County got the victory by the score of 12-8.

Wednesday's game in the Brickyard will again be broadcast on the radio and internet by WTHO. Neal Tam and Greg Derry will call the action when Thomson has the ball and Scott Swann and Trevor Roberson will call the play when Warren County has the ball. Thomson won the regular season match up between the two teams by the score of 20-8.

Jatavian Allen Named Player-of-the-Game

Reprinted with permission from Neal Tam's Facebook page.

Jatavian Allen gets into position to make a tackle.

If you were able to be there in person or if you listened on the radio, it was one heck of a game this afternoon at Albert J. Massey Field in Warrrenton. As Scott Swann said, it was the game of the week!! Two very good teams from two close-knit communities battled it out in a tight game. Though Thomson-McDuffie Middle School came away with the 20-8 victory, the player of the game has to be Mr. Jatavian Allen of the Screaming Devils. I don't know how many times we called out #23 for making the tackle or delivering a key block, but he was always in the middle of the action. If you listened to the broadcast, you heard us reference both his physical size and the size of his heart. This 7th grader is one tough young man. Jatavian, his parents, coaches, and school have a lot to be proud of with this fellow.

Middle School Devils Fall To Thomson 20-8

 Photos by Rasheeda Usry

Warren County Middle School entered the final regular season game undefeated against the undefeated Thomson Bulldogs Wednesday. Bragging rights as well as home field advantage in the playoffs were on the line when the two teams took the field. Fans from both teams expected an exciting game and were treated to exactly what they came to see.

Thomson won the coin toss and elected to kickoff to start the game. Warren County's first possession reminded the Bulldog fans how effective the Wing-T offense can be when run properly. The Screaming Devils kept the football on the ground, picking up three or four yards per carry and grinding up the clock. The Devils kept the ball most of the first quarter until finally turning it over on a fumble at about the 30 yard line with under 2:00 to go in the first.

Dylan Hobbs breaks an 86 yard touchdown run for Thomson.

Thomson quickly took advantage of the Warren County turn over. Dylan Hobbs broke loose for the Bulldogs for a 50 yard touchdown run to put Thomson on the board first with a 6-0 lead.

Warren County would answer the Bulldog drive with a score of their own. The Devils put together another long drive that ended with a short one yard run by Lovasea Carroll for a touchdown. Justin Stanford punched it in for the two point conversion giving the Screaming Devils an 8-6 lead in the second quarter.

Lovasea Carroll turns the corner for Warren County.

The Thomson depth of roster seemed to begin to get to the Devils towards the end of the second quarter. Dairon Jones broke loose for the second score of the afternoon for the Bulldogs and put them back in the lead at the end of the first half. This time the two point conversion was good and the Bulldogs led 14-8.

Thomson would add 6 more in the third quarter on another touchdown by Jones to make it 20-8. The Devils had their chances to score, but came up just short. Warren County had the ball first and goal at the seven yard line, but were unable to put the ball into the end zone. The Devils were driving again at the end of the game inside Bulldog territory as time ticked down on the scoreboard.

The Thomson victory means that the Bulldogs will face Louisville in the Brickyard next Wednesday while Warren County will have a rematch with Washington County at Albert J. Massey Field. The winner of both games will meet in the Brickyard the following Wednesday to determine the region championship.

Warriors Win The Battle At Warren County

Photos by Rasheeda Usry

Jaden Hawkins fights to turn the corner against Wilkinson

The Screaming Devils hoped to build upon last week's win at Harlem, but the Warriors of Wilkinson County proved to be too much for a Warren County team still trying to regroup from the loss of its main running back. The Devils also struggled to overcome several other big game day injuries during the 38-6 loss Friday night.

Warren County took the opening kick off and took over on offense with good field position after a 23 yard return gave the Devils the ball at their own 35 yard line. The Devil's first offensive series would last only one play. On the first play from scrimmage, Jarvis Collins attempted a 20 yard pass to My'Kuan Loney. Clarence Jackson had the ball played perfectly for the Warriors however and went up to make the interception at the Wilkinson County 45 yard line.

Johnquezus Neal runs into a Wilkinson defender.

The Warriors didn't fair much better in their opening series of the night. After picking up a first down and getting the ball down to about the 37 yard line, Wilkinson County's first drive of the night stalled and they were forced to punt on 4th and 10. After a penalty pushed the Devils back to the 7 yard line, Jarvis Collins took the hand off for the Devils and ran for 78 yards to put the Devils in scoring position. A few plays later, Jermaine Berry would walk into the end zone for Warren County's only score of the night.

Turnovers and injuries plagued the Devils for the rest of the night and prevented them from putting more points on the board. Johnquezus Neal, Jaquavius Fowler, Stedman Hall, and Maleek Evans all suffered injuries Friday night. Those injuries, combined with the loss of running back Timothy Seals, made it very difficult for Warren County to mount a counter attack to the passing game of Wilkinson County.

The Screaming Devils have a much needed off week this Friday night and hope the extra time will work to heal some of their injuries. Warren County travels to Lincoln County next week to take on the Red Devils in a region match-up.

Jarkevin Clark talks gets instructions from the sidelines.

Middle School Devils Shutout W-W

Photos by Scott Swann

Warren County Middle School extended their perfect season record to 4-0 with a win over Washington-Wilkes Wednesday. The victory was also the second consecutive shut out for a Devil defense that has improved every game this season.

The Screaming Devils got off to a slow start in the first quarter. The Devils turned the ball over on downs after taking the opening kickoff to start the game. The defense then came in for Warren County and quickly set the tone for the rest of the game. While the offense got their feet under them throughout the first half, the defense steadily backed the Tigers into a hole.

Tony Wynn recovers a blocked punt for the Devils.

Warren County would finally put points on the scoreboard in the 2nd quarter when Justin Stanford broke through the line to block a punt by the Washington-Wilkes punter deep in Tiger territory. Tony Wynn recovered the ball for the Devils on the one yard line and two plays later, Lovasea Carroll walked into the end zone untouched. The two point conversion was good and Warren County led 8-0 to go in the 2nd quarter.

Lovasea Carroll breaks a long TD run.

The Devil defense went right back to work and held the Tigers in four straight plays for no gain, quickly giving the Warren County offense the ball once again in Tiger territory. With time running out in the 1st half, Carroll broke free for a 40 yard touchdown run. This time the two point conversion was no good and the Devils led 14-0 at the half.

Dylan Moss and Justin Stanford wrap up the Tiger QB.

The Devils would score again for the final time in the 3rd quarter. The two point conversion made the final score 22-0.

The coaching staff praised the team for their outstanding defensive play this season. The Devils have only given up a total of 16 points this season, two of which coming from a safety.

Warren County's defense will face its biggest test of the season next week when Thomson Middle School visits Albert J. Massey Field. While Thomson lost earlier in the season to Burke County, both teams are undefeated in league play. The winner of Wednesday's game will not only earn bragging rights between the two communities, but will also be granted home field advantage throughout the league playoffs.

Kick off is set for 5:00 September 23rd in Warrenton.

Brian Grant pulls in a pass from Ellijah Grier.

Emotional Win for Screaming Devils

 The Screaming Devils overcame an adversity filled week and literally ran away with a victory in overtime Friday night against the Bulldogs of Harlem. The Devils were playing without their leading rusher after Timothy Seals was accidentally shot over the weekend. Seals was released from the hospital Friday and joined his teammates for the game in a car parked inside the fence behind the north end zone.

The Devils struggled to get things going on the ground without Seals in the early going. A wet field
made it difficult for both teams and neither the Bulldogs or the Devils managed to put points on the board in the first quarter.

Zantez Hudson makes a tackle for Warren County

Jarvis Collins, wearing Seals' jersey, got the Devils on the board in the 2nd quarter. Collins found a hole up the middle for a 27 yard touchdown run to put the Devils up 6-0. The two point conversion was no good and Warren County took a one touchdown lead into the locker room at the half.

The Bulldogs took advantage of excellent field position in the 3rd quarter and tied the score with a 37 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Owen Price. Harlem failed to convert the extra point and the score remained tied at the end of the period.

Neither team was able to score in the 4th quarter, sending the game into overtime.

Warren County won the toss and elected to start the overtime period on offense. On the very first play, Jarvis Collins rolled to his left and threw to My'Kuan Loney in the corner of the end zone for a 15 yard touchdown pass. The two point conversion again failed and the Devils led 12-6.

Jermaine Berry turns the corner for the Devils.

Harlem took over on offense needing a touchdown to extend the game. After an illegal procedure penalty pushed the Bulldogs back 5 yards, Price tried to go to the air on the left side himself. Stedman Hall sniffed it out for the Devils and intercepted the pass, sealing the victory for the Devils. Hall began running for the north end zone after the interception despite the officials blowing the play dead and ruling the game over. What initially appeared to be an instinctive touchdown run was really a dash by Hall with the game ball towards Seals in his car at the opposite end of the field. Hall was joined by the rest of his teammates and the cheerleaders in an emotional celebration with Seals at the far end of the field.

Kentavious Griffin and Staphon Lowe make the stop.

Freshman running back, Maleek Evans, stepped in for Seals and led the running attack for the Devils with 68 yards on 11 carries for the Devils. Jermaine Berry was close behind with 12 carries for 60 yards. Jarvis Collins added 46 yards on 11 carries.

Collins threw for 57 yards on the night. He had 6 completions on 12 attempts and 1 interception. Johnquezus Neal also completed a 13 yard pass from the end zone as the punter after a bad snap. The pass was key in preventing a safety late in the game that would have given the Bulldogs the lead.

My'Kuan Loney was the leading receiver with 3 catches for 37 yards and a touchdown. Jaden Hawkins added two catches for 24 yards and Marchavious Blair had 1 catch for 13 yards.

The Devils play host to Wilkinson County Friday night at Albert J. Massey Stadium. Game time is set for 7:30.

Jarvis Collins wears #4 for Timothy Seals.