Westside goes on the road, knocks off Laney

AUGUSTA -- As the officials met on the field to discuss penalties after an interception, some Laney players sat on the ground with their heads down. More Wildcats stood, but their heads were facing the same direction.

The clock revealed that 3:35 remained, but it might as well have counted down to zeroes.

Laney struggled on offense for most of the game as it lost 21-12 at home to Westside in the first round of the GHSA Class AAA playoffs Friday night.

"We came a long way from the summertime. For them to battle and go through this season and even come out with a region championship -- it doesn't feel good right now, but they gave their all," Laney head coach Rodney McFadden said.

Even though the Wildcats (8-3) had an 88-yard touchdown run by Willie Eubanks III on the first offensive snap of the game, they finished with only 132 yards in the loss. The Laney defense, which posted shutouts in each of the past four games, kept the game close, but the Seminoles (8-3) seemed to wear down the Wildcats with a 73-yard scoring drive that lasted 5:41.

Savion Knowlton capped the possession with a 16-yard touchdown run, his second rushing score of the night. He had 177 total yards.

The Seminoles led 14-6 at halftime on1-yard touchdown runs from Gerimie Mitchell and Knowlton.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 11:20 PM with the headline "Westside goes on the road, knocks off Laney ."