Charles City scores first, but fall 64-26 in season debut

Charles City’s Jaquane Wyatt (22) powers through a tackle while receiving a block from teammate Shea Clancy (24) during Charles City’s opening contest at Amelia County.

Andre' Jones photo

When Charles City’s Jaquane Wyatt took the opening handoff 65 yards for a touchdown, it seemed the Panthers would give the hosting Amelia County Raiders a contest.

Unfortunately, the youthful Panthers would allow the hosts the next 33 points as the Raiders cruised to a 64-26 victory in the opener for both teams.

Amelia County countered the Panthers opening score with a 28-yard run from Jamar Booker. A Drew Williams placement would give the hosts a lead they would never relinquish.

On the next Panthers drive, Wyatt fumbled the ball deep in the team’s own territory. Richard Perry would add the next score.

Subsequent drives saw the youthful Panthers unable to stop the different scoring methods by the Raiders. The hosts’ quarterback Richard Brown connected with receiver Richard Wojno on a screen pass for 25 yards, followed up by Javon Banks breaking loose for a 73-yard scamper and a 27-6 lead for Amelia after the first quarter.

The Panthers began matriculating the ball down the field. But on the very first play of the second quarter, Panthers quarterback Khairi Wyatt was sacked and fumbled the ball, resulting in Raiders defensive tackle Lavonte Bradley scooping the ball and returning it 76 yards for the score.

Panthers’ fullback Tesean Greene finally put more points on the board for the Panthers with a four-yard touchdown run, but two more scores by the Raiders before half stretched the margin to 46-12.

The Panthers failed to deter the scoring habits of the hosts. Scores from a rushing touchdown, a kickoff return, and interception return only dampened the woes of the youthful Panthers.

Charles City managed to get two more scores at the end of the game. Freshman quarterback Troy Crawley connected with Khairi Wyatt on a four-yard pass and just before the conclusion of the game launched a 26-yard pass to teammate classmate Cecil Tyler to account for the final score.

After the game, first-year Panthers head coach Alan Jones Sr. spoke about the critical mistakes his team made throughout the night.

“We gave up the big plays,” the frustrated coach said. “On offense we moved the ball, but on defense and special teams we didn’t execute.

“Right now we’re an incomplete team,” he continued. “We need more leadership from our eleventh and twelfth graders.”

Jones comments about the offense were accurate, as Charles City outgained Amelia in total offensive yards 345-321, led by Jaquane Wyatt’s 230 total offensive yards.

Charles City— 6 6 0 14 —— 28
Amelia County—- 27 19 18 0 —— 64

1st Quarter
CC (11:50)- J. Wyatt 65 yard run (run fail) 6-0
A (11:01)- Booker 28 yard run (Williams kick) 7-6
A (8:57)- Perry 1 yard run (kick fail) 13-6
A (6:37)- Wojno 25 yard pass from Brown (Williams kick) 20-6
A (4:29)- Banks 73 yard run (Williams kick) 27-6
2nd Quarter
A (11:47) Bradley 76 yard fumble return (kick fail) 33-6
CC (10:05)- Greene 4 yard run (run fail) 33-12
A (7:02)- Perry 11 yard pass from Brown (Williams kick) 40-12
A (3:14)- Jones 1 yard run (kick fail) 46-12
3rd Quarter
A (9:29)- Brown 1 yard run (run fail) 52-12
A (4:12)- Perry 77 yard punt return (kick fail) 58-12
A (0:56)- Baker 80 yard interception return (kick fail) 64-12
4th Quarter
CC (0:47)- K. Wyatt 4 yard pass from Crawley (Adkins pass from Crawley) 64-20
CC (0:06)- Tyler 26 yard pass from Crawley (run fail) 64-26

Rushing (attempts/yards)
CC- J. Wyatt 20/165, K. Wyatt 7/-36, Greene 3/7, Crawley 3/10, Tyler 3/10
A- Brown 6/57, Booker 5/78, Perry 3/26, Jones 3/44, Banks 2/78, Johnson 1/-1, Harris 3/3
Passing (completions/attempts/yards)
CC- K. Wyatt 5/12/106, Crawley 5/13/83, 2 TD, 2 Int.
A- Brown 2/5/36, 2 TD, Royal 0/1/0.
Receiving (receptions/yards)
CC- Adkins 1/27, Greene 3/14, J. Wyatt 1/65, Tyler 2/36, K. Wyatt 3/47
A- Wojno 1/25, Perry 1/11