Superior 2nd half carries GH Raiders over WP Warriors:
Raiders roll in 2nd half by outscoring WP 28 to 0:
GDW Analysis:
GOOD HOPE: For the 2nd consecutive year, the Good Hope Raiders were superior in the 2nd half against the West Point Warriors.
Last year, the Raiders scored 2 TDs in the 3rd quarter enroute to a 17 to 3 triumph at West Point Stadium.
In front of full house Friday from James Shabel Stadium, the Raiders broke the game open with three scores in the last quarter and a 42 to 7 triumph.
This was the first time since 2020 the home team had been the winner in this series.
West Point leads with 25 wins to 20 for Good Hope and a 7 to 7 tie in 1974.
Good Hope got a 14 to 0 lead on West Point with 2 scoring drives in the 1st.
After stopping the Warriors; Ollie Howell on 4th down at the GH 48, the Raiders drove 52 yards and led 7 to 0 on a 10 yard run by Carson Hollis and the conversion from Chae Prewitt.
The Raiders regained possession after a West Point punt and would move to 14 to 0 on Parker Johnson hitting Mason Drake for a 43 yard scoring play.
West Point kept Good Hope out of the end zone in the 2nd when a Raider drive ended at the Warriors' 28 on downs. On the next play, Ayden Ennis threw a slant pass to Cooper Howard who sprinted 72 yards for the score.
The extra point from Julio Fuentes got the Warriors back in the game at 5:29 of the quarter.
The turning point would be when West Point failed to score as time ran out in the half. Going from their 6 thanks to a 37 yard run by Howell and a 28 yard pass to Teagon Heaton, the Warriors went to the Good Hope 4 only to not tie the score when they could punch the ball over on four attempts.
WR Jaxson Shelton got tackled by a Good Hope defensive back as the half ended at the Raiders' 4. Good Hope led 14 to 7.
The Raiders took the 2nd half kickoff and finished a 65 yard drive to the end zone when Drake scoring on a 27 yard run.
Going to the 4th, Alan Scott's Raiders were ahead 21 to 7.
Johnson scampered 67 yards to a TD at 11:25 of the 4th and a 28 to 7 Raider cushion.
A great catch in end zone by Carter Rutherford resulted in a 30 yard TD and the Raiders moved the lead to 35 to 7.
The defense would provide the clincher on West Point's next series. Blake Cordes took a pass and went 52 yards for a pick six and the Raiders took care of business by a 42 to 7 final.
In the 2nd half, the Raiders outgained the Warriors 182 to 67 in offense and would finish the contest by compiling 316 yards and 13 first downs.
Johnson ran for 133 yards and a TD and threw for a score.
Drake would earn 133 yards on the ground as he and Johnson were a deadly combo in the opener.
Good Hope now heads to Fultondale next Friday for its 4A, Region 5 opener.
West Point welcomes Fairview to campus for the Warriors' home opener, a battle in 5A, Region 7 play.
Photo of Good Hope coach Alan Scott Friday in the Raiders' 42 to 7 win over West Point at James Shabel Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Cullman Daily.
