WS Chronicle

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EDEN – Davion Bennett scored two touchdowns while JaQuan Porter and Tsion Saunders added one each to spark the Eagles of the Youth Character Football League (YCFL) to a 27-8 victory over the Eden Prowlers on Saturday at Morehead High School.

Saunders got the Eagles off to an early start, bolting 60 yards on a quarterback keeper to stake the Eagles to a 6-0 lead. Porter added the extra point to lift the score to 7-0. Bennett got into the act on the Eagles’ next possession. He took a pitch from Saunders, swerved around several Panther tacklers and raced 70 yards down the sideline for a touch-down. Porter again added the extra point to make the score 14-0.

Sam Davis, the Eagles’ head coach, said Saunders’ run was important in set-ting the tone for his young team.

“Although this is a 12-and-under team, most of these kids have never played football,” he said. “It was very important for their confidence that we were able to get out to a quick start. I am very proud of the way they hung in there early and set the tone.”

After taking their 14-0 lead, the Eagles continued to pile up offensive yardage. Porter, the full-back in the Eagles’ Wing-T offensive set, bullied his way for more than 100 yards. Porter’s 65-yard touchdown run boosted the Eagles lead to 21-0 at the half.

Bennett led the team with some 160 yards on only 10 carries. He also had an 85-yard touchdown run wiped out by a holding penalty. Saunders showed great poise and leadership in his first start at quarterback.

way we played,” Davis said. “Tsion really settled into the position and I think he now has the confidence needed to execute our offense. Porter was a battering ram for us throughout the game. He’s a special player out there and we depend on him to make plays on offense and on defense (at linebacker).”

Bennett was the wild card. His open field running helped the Eagles to maintain several drives.

“Davion is an exceptional athlete,” Davis said. “He has the ability to go all the way every time he touches the football. Of course he has some things he needs to work on, but his future is very bright if he continues to work and familiarize himself more with our offense.”

In addition, Davis said the Eagles’ offensive line played well.

“We shuffled some kids around after our first game and they responded very well,” Davis added. “We had a new center (Tyrone Campbell) and he did a good job of snapping the football. That was a problem in our first game. The right side of our offensive line also played well. Tyshon Holland and Steven Evans played the way we expected them to play and their blocking paved the way for us. Our left side (Cameron Carson, Zquarius Pugh and Reginald Pleasant) played well also.”

Porter’s 65-yard touchdown came on a play that he ran over several Prowlers en route to the end zone.

“Porter is a leader and he leads by example,” Davis said. “Whenever we need a big play, we put the ball in his hands.”

The Eagles defense shut down the Prowlers until a touchdown late in the game when defensive coordinator Lamar Landrum had substitutes in the game.

“I have an outstanding coaching staff with Coach Landrum, who had a great defensive scheme,” Davis said. “We made some changes in our personnel after the first game (two weeks ago) and the kids responded. Coach Landrum is a big asset to the YCFL program and his experience really shows. He has been a great support to me and the rest of the coaching staff and I really appreciate his efforts.”

Defensively, the Eagles were led by Porter, Bennett, Saunders, Holland, Evans, Deven Royster and C.J. Green.

“Deven and C.J. both played well at the corner-back position,” Davis said. “Deven really stepped up on offense and defense. C.J. had several big stops for us. T’Andre Williams also did a good job at safety and Travis Pender, Jr. stepped up well at linebacker – opposite Porter.”

The victory improved the Eagles’ record to 1-1. They will play at home this Saturday at Carver High School.