The Wilson Post
LEBANON WEATHER

Mt. Juliet escapes with three-point win at Wilson Central




Mt. Juliet's Conlin Baggott runs for a touchdown against Wilson Central.Steve Wampler

Mt. Juliet’s Conlin Baggott runs for a touchdown against Wilson Central.Steve Wampler

GLADEVILLE – Mt. Juliet’s traditional path to victory uses multiple big scoring plays throughout the game.

Friday night, the Golden Bears produced just one big play, at least on offense, and got a Connor Kowalski field goal to beat Wilson Central 10-7.

Kowalski put Mt. Juliet (4-0, 2-0 Region 4-6A) on the scoreboard midway through the first quarter with a 33-yard field goal on its first possession. The ball landed in the end zone on his 43-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter.

Conlin Baggott ran the ball on a sweep, faked a reverse and went 53 yards for a touchdown with 27 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Kowalski’s PAT was the final point for the Golden Bears

Baggott led Mt. Juliet in rushing with 107 yards on 16 carries. The Golden Bears had just nine (seven runs, two passes) of its 55 plays go for 10 yards or more.

“Last week we hit a big reverse for a touchdown (against Gallatin),” Mt. Juliet coach Trey Perry said. “Jamari Sowell (the option to receive the reverse pitch from Baggott) is a gifted athlete and draws a lot of attention. We decided to fake the reverse this week.”

Mt. Juliet's Conlin Baggott and Carson Coleman (50) celebrate a touchdown.Steve Wampler

Mt. Juliet’s Conlin Baggott and Carson Coleman (50) celebrate a touchdown.Steve Wampler

Mt. Juliet had 13 penalties for 92 yards, including a holding penalty that wiped out a 55-yard touchdown run by Sowell off the scoreboard in the fourth quarter.

“That is two weeks in a row we have had a lot of penalties,” Perry said. “I will fix that this week in practice. We may be tired next Friday night from practice this week, but (penalties) will be fixed.”

The Wildcats had 11 penalties for 70 yards. The teams combined for 14 punts.

Wilson County (2-3, 1-1) quarterback Tristan Lewis threw a 6-yard scoring pass to Clayton Duke early in the third quarter. Ezra Widelock set up the touchdown with a 46-yard catch and run along the sideline on the Wildcats’ first play of the second half.

Lewis completed his first four passes of the second half and finished the game 14-of-23 passing for 159 yards. Three of his passes were intercepted, including one by Manny Marshall near midfield with 10 seconds remaining in the game. Abe Gizaw led the Wilson Central receivers with six catches for 45 yards. Widelock had three catches for 86 yards.

Wilson Central's Ezra Widelock hauls in a pass during the first half against Mt. Juliet.Steve Wampler

Wilson Central’s Ezra Widelock hauls in a pass during the first half against Mt. Juliet.Steve Wampler

Wilson Central coach Brad Dedman said earlier in the week that his team would need to prevent Mt. Juliet’s big plays and run the ball well to beat the Golden Bears for the first time since 2008.

“One big play,” Dedman said. “We didn’t execute on that touchdown. We had a guy in position to make the tackle and missed it.”

Dedman said that Wilson Central’s defensive line was the key for preventing Mt. Juliet from getting second-half points for the first time this season.

“Our defensive line played exceptionally well, especially in the second half,” Dedman said. “They (Golden Bears) were really struggling to get first downs out there.”

Mt. Juliet linebacker Collin Gleaves intercepted a pass over the middle at the 11 to start the drive for Baggott’s touchdown. Linebacker Matt Delfendahl intercepted a pass for the second week in a row, returning it nearly 30 yards to the Wildcats’ 14 early in the second quarter. A snap over Golden Bears quarterback Stephen Swoner’s head on third down stopped the scoring opportunity.

Wilson Central's Robbie Spickard (6) and Emmanuel Tramontano (10) tackle Mt. Juliet senior Camron Malone.Steve Wampler

Wilson Central’s Robbie Spickard (6) and Emmanuel Tramontano (10) tackle Mt. Juliet senior Camron Malone.Steve Wampler

Mt. Juliet had six tackles for loss.

“We know our offense will get it done, but tonight our defense really came through,” Delfendahl said. “We face the best offense in practice and that really gets us prepared.”

Wilson Central plays at Gallatin next Friday and then plays at home on Oct. 2 against Hendersonville, the only team alongside Mt. Juliet still unbeaten in region play.

Mt. Juliet is scheduled to play Spring Hill at home in what might be the Golden Bears final home game until Oct. 30. The game was scheduled for Oct. 8 but was moved when Maplewood, the original Sept. 25 opponent, was not cleared to play.

SCORING SUMMARY

Wilson Central's W7 Zavier Ali gets brought down by Jeffrey Pillows (99) and Matt Delfendahl (15).Steve Wampler

Wilson Central’s W7 Zavier Ali gets brought down by Jeffrey Pillows (99) and Matt Delfendahl (15).Steve Wampler

MJHS – 10 0 0 0 — 10

WCHS – 0 0 7 0 —7

FIRST QUARTER

MJHS – Connor Kowalski 33 field goal

MJHS – Conlin Baggott 53 run (Kowalski kick)

THIRD QUARTER

WCHS – Clayton Duke 6 pass from Tristan Lewis (Esteban Hurtado kick)

Mt. Juliet QB Stephen Swoner runs for yardage against Wilson Central.Steve Wampler

Mt. Juliet QB Stephen Swoner runs for yardage against Wilson Central.Steve Wampler

Wilson Central's Blake Hobbs wraps up Mt. Juliet tailback Camron Malone.Steve Wampler

Wilson Central’s Blake Hobbs wraps up Mt. Juliet tailback Camron Malone.Steve Wampler

Wilson Central's Zavier Ali fends off Mt. Juliet defender Montrell Bandy (22).Steve Wampler

Wilson Central’s Zavier Ali fends off Mt. Juliet defender Montrell Bandy (22).Steve Wampler

Wilson Central's Clayton Duke catches a wide-open TD pass in the third quarter.Steve Wampler

Wilson Central’s Clayton Duke catches a wide-open TD pass in the third quarter.Steve Wampler

Wilson Central's Ezra Widelock tries to get past Mt. Juliet defender Montrell Bandy.Steve Wampler

Wilson Central’s Ezra Widelock tries to get past Mt. Juliet defender Montrell Bandy.Steve Wampler

Mt. Juliet's Montrell Bandy tackles C.J. Hatchett (1). Steve Wampler

Mt. Juliet’s Montrell Bandy tackles C.J. Hatchett (1). Steve Wampler

Wilson Central's Ayden Bussell prepares to block Mt. Juliet defender Jeremiah Sowell.Steve Wampler

Wilson Central’s Ayden Bussell prepares to block Mt. Juliet defender Jeremiah Sowell.Steve Wampler

Leave a Reply