Tornaodes play tough, but fall short against Knights

The Philadelphia Tornadoes battled the Knights of West Lauderdale hard but fell short 40-26 Friday night in prep football action.

The Tornadoes, now 1-4, start region play Friday night when they host J.Z. George which comes in at 2-3 following last week’s 67-16 loss to Water Valley.

This will be Philadelphia’s homecoming.

West Lauderdale got on the scoreboard early. After taking the opening kickoff, the Knights moved the ball to the Philadelphia 9-yard powered by a long pass with a face mask penalty tacked on. West scored on a 4-yard run and went up 7-0 with 11:12 left in the first quarter.  

The Tornadoes took the ensuing kickoff. On third down,  C.J. Rush ran the ball down to the Knights 25-yard line. Two plays later, Rush scored on a 23-yard run. The try for two failed and the Tornadoes trailed 7-6.

West Lauderdale responded with 15-yard run to take a 14-6 lead and that’s where it stood at end of the first quarter.

Philadelphia cut into the West Lauderdale in the second quarter when Dee Burnside caught an 85-yard TD pass from Bernard Parker. The try for two failed and the Knights led 14-12 with 6:14 left in the first half.

West Lauderdale kicked a 42-yard field goal and led 17-12 at the half.

The Knights took advantage of a Tornado miscue on the second half kickoff and took over on the Philadelphia 30-yard line. The Knights would score on a 12-yard pass and went up 24-12.

Again, the Tornadoes came back to put points on the scoreboard. On fourth down, Parker connected with Keathan Graham on a 12-yard TD pass play. The two point conversion was good and the Tornadoes trailed 24-20.

West Lauderdale scored two more times in the third quarter and led 37-20 at the break. West Lauderdale scored its final points on a 31-yard field goal.

In final minutes, Rush scored for the Tornadoes on a 15-yard run and then ran in the two point conversion.

We played better,” Tornadoes coach David  Frey said, “The opening kickoff for the second half really hurt us. We had too many mental mistakes.

“J.Z. George has some good athletes. They have won two games and they are going to be a challenge. We are going to have to work hard and try to get better.”

Rush finished with 144 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns. Parker completed 7-of-12 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Burnside caught five passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns.

West Lauderdale, now 4-1, opens region play at Leake Central Friday night.