Quarterback Richard Latimer leads West Mecklenburg rally against Ardrey Kell
Richard Latimer and a crew of speedy receivers led West Mecklenburg’s revived football program to a come-from-behind 47-35 Southern Meck 4A victory Friday night at Ardrey Kell.
Trailing for much of the first half, the Hawks scored four straight touchdowns in the second half, converting a 28-21 deficit into a 47-28 lead.
Latimer was the architect, in a game that featured more than 1,100 yards of total offense. He threw five touchdown passes, including tosses of 58 and 80 yards to Khafre Brown. He also threw two touchdowns to Dyami Brown.
But in a game with video-game offense, it was a defensive play that made the difference.
Down 35-28 early in the fourth quarter, Ardrey Kell drove to the West Mecklenburg 10. On second down, Dyami Brown picked off a Luke Hefferly pass and dashed 100 yards for a touchdown. The Knights never got closer than two scores after that.
Latimer finished with 22 of 32 completions for 444 yards. Khafre Brown had five receptions for 194 yards, and teammates Dyami Brown and Tyler Barnes each had seven receptions.
The victory lifted West Mecklenburg, under first-year head coach Jarvis Davis, to 4-1. The Hawks’ only loss was in overtime to powerful Vance.
Hefferly also had a big game, completing 25 of 50 passes for 369 yards.
Records: West Mecklenburg is 1-0 in Southern Meck 4A, 4-1 overall; Ardrey Kell is 0-1 and 2-3.
Worth mentioning: The Knights pulled a surprise on the game’s first play, as Evan Thompson squibbed the kickoff, and the Knights recovered at the West Meck 38. One play later, Cade McDonald ran for the game’s first score. … The teams combined for 349 yards total offense in just the first quarter. … Ardrey Kell actually outgained West Meck in total yardage, 580-566. … Two of the Knights’ drives ended in missed field goals.
What’s Next: In Southern Meck 4A games next Friday, West Mecklenburg is home against Providence, and Ardrey Kell will visit Olympic.
West Mecklenburg 14 7 6 20 – 47
Ardrey Kell 21 0 7 7 – 35
AK – Cade McDonald 38 run (Jarrett Wright kick)
WM – Jared Jones 30 pass from Richard Latimer (Juan Cota kick)
AK – Merrick Haston 11 run (Wright kick)
WM – Khafre Brown 58 pass from Latimer (Cota kick)
AK – Jaylen Erwin 5 pass from Luke Hefferly (Wright kick)
WM – Khafre Brown 27 pass from Latimer (Cota kick)
AK– Zack Quintero 58 pass from Hefferly (Wright kick)
WM – Khafre Brown 80 pass from Latimer (kick blocked)
WM – Dyami Brown 11 pass from Latimer (Khafre Brown pass from Latimer)
WM – Dvami Brown 100 interception return (pass failed)
WM – Dyami Brown 5 pass from Latimer (kick blocked)
AK – Nicco Crew 2 run (Wright kick)
This story was originally published September 23, 2016 at 11:13 PM with the headline "Quarterback Richard Latimer leads West Mecklenburg rally against Ardrey Kell."