Weddington solves Ardrey Kell’s defense with dominant defensive performance of its own
The offense has always been there. On Friday night, Weddington’s defense joined the party.
After surrendering 122 points in its first three games, Weddington’s defense shut down Ardrey Kell’s high-powered attack, and the seventh-ranked Warriors throttled the fifth-ranked Knights 31-14 in a battle of neighborhood rivals.
“It’s been a process,” Weddington coach Andy Capone said of the Warrior defense, which allowed only one touchdown Friday night until the game’s closing minutes. “To be fair, we’ve gone up against really good teams, loaded with (Division 1) talent. But tonight we put it together.”
Capone’s team put up plenty of points on an Ardrey Kell defense that had 17 sacks and allowed just 13 points during a 3-0 start.
But Friday, Weddington (3-1) had the better defense.
The Warriors picked off two Ardrey Kell passes, recovered a fumble and stopped the Knights with a goal-line stand in the second quarter.
That might have been the game’s turning point. Leading 7-3, Ardrey Kell drove to the Weddington 1 but was stopped on fourth down. The Warriors then drove 99 yards for a go-ahead touchdown, then made it 17-7 a minute later on a long pass.
Warriors quarterback Tyler Budge threw for four touchdowns and completed 23 of 33 passes for 274 yards.
Zymill Patterson had eight receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
Beylor Morgan provided the Knights (3-1) with most of their offense, rushing for 112 yards.
Ardrey Kell is idle next week, then hosts Palisades in its SoMeck 4A opener in two weeks.
Weddington is home next week to Mecklenburg County (Va.).
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
Ardrey Kell 7 0 0 7 – 14
Weddington 3 21 7 0 – 31
W: FG Tyrell Scott 30
AK: Beylor Morgan 40 run (Andrew Bontekoe kick)
W: Zymill Patterson 27 pass from Tyler Budge (Scott kick)
W: Griffin Reimer 23 pass from Budge (Scott kick)
W: Evan Gilbert 19 pass from Budge (Scott kick)
W: Patterson 34 pass from Budge (Scott kick)
AK: Ben Kirsch 16 pass from Josh Leclair (Bontekoe kick)
