Tornadoes routed in 55-20 loss to West Lauderdale Friday

It was another tough night for the Philadelphia Tornadoes as they dropped a 55-20 decision to West Lauderdale Friday night at Harpole Field.

The Tornadoes fall to 2-3 on the season. They will travel to Mize this Friday night.

“We knew this was going to be a tough schedule and that things could go this way,” said Coach David Frey. “But I still believe these games will help us get ready for our Region 5-2A schedule.

“Our defense has got to get better. Our offense is playing well. We have got to learn to contain on defense. It’s not just the defensive line, it’s the linebackers, too. We have to get better.”

Philadelphia took the opening kickoff and picked up a first down on their first play from scrimmage when Chancellor Greer rushed for 14 yards. But the Knights' defense tightened up and forced the Tornadoes to punt on fourth down. The Knights pounded it in and scored when quarterback Jackson Parker threw a 12-yard TD pass play. The kick after was good and West Lauderdale led 7-0 with 8:18 left in the first quarter.

Philadelphia took the ensuing kickoff and put together a 12-play drive that covered 59 yards. Greer scored on a 1-yard rush. The kick was no good and the Knights led 7-6.

The Knights responded with an eight-play drive that ended when senior Ja’Karius Grant scored on a 2-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. The try for two failed and the Knights led 13-6.

The Tornadoes took the kickoff. Quarterback Marcus Beamon was intercepted three plays later. The two teams exchanged possessions. Then the Knights scored again when Parker threw a 27-yard TD pass to Cooper Luke. The Knights scored on the 2-point conversion and West Lauderdale led 21-6 with 4:19 left in the first half.

The Knights scored again on their next possession when Caleb Collins ran it in from 34 yards out. The extra point was no good and the Knights went up 27-6. That’s how it stood at the half.

The Knights took the second-half kickoff and drove it in for a touchdown. This time, Grant scored on a 50-yard run making the score 34-6 with 10:35 left in the third quarter.

The Tornadoes took the kickoff and drove 65-yards in 17-plays. The Tornadoes appeared to score when Beamon ran it in from four yards out. A penalty voided the touchdown and put the Tornadoes back to the nine-yard line. So, Beamon ran it into the end zone again, this time from 9 yards out. Greer scored the 2-point conversion and the Knights led 27-14 with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter.

The Knights took the kickoff and scored four plays later when Collins ran 45 yards for a touchdown. The kick was good and West Lauderdale led 41-6.

The Tornadoes took the kickoff and got good field possession on Dee Burnside’s 46-yard return. On fourth down, Beamon connected with Burnside for a 21-yard TD pass play. The kick failed and the Tornadoes trailed 41-20.

West Lauderdale scored twice in the time remaining. Grant scored on a 7-yard run. The kick was good and the Knights led 48-20.

Beamon was intercepted again and the Knights took it in for their final touchdown of the night. With 4:46 left to play, West Lauderdale went for two and made it to end the scoring.

Beamon completed 6-of-17 passes for 67 yards. He also rushed 14 times for 86 yards. Greer rushed 20 times for 104 yards. Burnside had two catches for 27 yards and Andrew Carter had one catch for 14 yards.