West Johnston falls in muddy season opener
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ANGIER — It was a chilly, wet and muddy scene as West Johnston fell 7-0 to Harnett Central on Saturday in both team’s season opener.
The muddy, flooded field made it hard for the Wildcats to get anything going in head coach Jermaine Harper’s first game. West did have a shot to win or tie the game, though, late in the fourth. Trailing 7-0, the Wildcats got the ball on the 45 yard-line and dialed up one of five passes on the day as Luke Lassiter found K’nai Streeter-Martin for 25 yards. Streeter-Martin then took a ten yard carry to the 25-yard line. West Johnston turned the ball over on downs with 35 seconds left. Brandon Booker then broke off a 50-yard run to kill the clock. Booker had the only score of the game early in third quarter.
“With the conditions out here, the ball bounced Harnett Central’s way,” Harper said. “We just got to continue to get better.”
Offensively, it was hard for West Johnston to create any offense because anytime one of their backs found a hole they’d lose their balance. Defensively, the Wildcats played well outside of a few big plays and penalties.
“We got to eliminate all the mental mistakes,” Harper said. “We got to improve our tackling and things like that. Long as we come out and compete every Friday night — we’ll be okay.”
West Johnston will host county foe Corinth Holders on Friday at 7 p.m.