Kickoff Returns Spark Wolves Past Daniel Boone (2024)

BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn.— The special teams were just that—SPECIAL—for West Ridge in its non-conference meeting with rival Daniel Boone at the Ridge on Friday night.

The Wolves returned two kickoffs for touchdowns to pull away from the Trailblazers and register a 42-7 victory to remain unbeaten in two games while Boone is still looking for its first win.

Trailing 7-0, the Blazers (0-2) drove 63 yards on their second possession with Dru Fleming barreling into the end zone from a yard out on fourth down to forge a tie with :41 left in the first quarter.

Kaleb Mabb initially bobbled the ensuing kickoff but quickly recovered and then raced down the sideline untouched 83 yards to put West Ridge back in front 14-7.

“I just got moved onto kickoff return this week after my ankle injury,” Mabb noted. “They told us they were going to be kicking it the other way, so I was lined up on the right side.

“And they kicked it to me. I bobbled it a little bit. Picked it up and I just saw an open gap and ran as hard as I could, and nobody caught me.”

Leading 28-7, Jackson Price took the second half kickoff and showed off his speed by returning it 87 yards to extend the Wolves’ advantage to 35-7.

“It was unreal,” explained Price. “You could just see the ball coming and I knew from that moment it was going to be a kick return.

“The gap opened. I went straight up the middle and Mabb made a great block. He blocked a guy for about 20 yards. Just a perfect block. Overall, it was a great game. It was a great return and great blocks.”

“Special teams are a third of the game,” added West Ridge coach Justin Hilton. “Connor Copas does a great job of making it important to our kids.

“I mean, I’ve been in seasons where you don’t get two touchdown returns the whole year. To have two in one game is an unconventional way to put points on the board, but I’m really proud of those guys. And I’m proud of how much emphasis we’ve put on it.”

“We feel like we’ve got a little more speed than we’ve had, and those guys were blocking great. You know, Mabb was escorting JP on that one then Mabb had one of his own. It’s fun. It’s exciting to watch those guys and I think we have a handful of playmakers.”

Ethan Amyx got West Ridge (2-0) on the board first when he burst through an open hole and rambled 22 yards for the touchdown to cap off a 65-yard drive on the Wolves’ opening possession.

The junior running back closed out the scoring in the first half when he fought his way into the end zone from 13 yards out to put West Ridge on top 28-7 at halftime.

Trey Frazier hooked up with Dylan Bannan on a perfectly-executed wide receiver-screen pass that went 44 yards for the score with 10:52 left in the first half. Back-up quarterback Isaac McGee closed out the scoring for the Wolves with a seven-yard jaunt with 4:55 remaining to account for the final score.

Amyx led the West Ridge attack with 79 yards rushing on 20 attempts and two scores. Frazier added six carries for 67 yards.

Boone was held to 129 total yards with Fleming accounting for 60 yards on 20 carries and the Blazers’ lone score.

The Wolves travel to J. Fred Johnson Stadium in Kingsport next Friday for their Region 1-6A opener against the Dobyns-Bennett Indians. West Ridge has yet to defeat D-B on the gridiron but, will try to get its first win against the Tribe in football next Friday night.

“I feel like they had that look in their eyes when they came out,” Hilton said. “That’s two weeks in a row that they have. So, I don’t think it will be too hard to get that look in their eyes next week. We’re going to be ready to play. But we’re going to enjoy this one and then it’s time to get back to work.”

The Trailblazers meet David Crockett in the annual Musket Bowl next Friday night.

First Quarter
WEST RIDGE — Ethan Amyx 22 run (Kendall Burton kick)
DANIEL BOONE — Dru Fleming 1 run (C. J. Lizotte kick)
WEST RIDGE — Kaleb Mabb 83 return(Kendall Burton kick)

Second Quarter
WEST RIDGE — Trey Frazier 44 pass to Dylan Bannan (Kendall Burton kick)
WEST RIDGE — Amyx 13 run (Kendall Burton kick)

Third Quarter
WEST RIDGE — Jackson Price 87 return (Kendall Burton kick)

Fourth Quarter
WEST RIDGE —Isaac McGee 7 run (Ethan Maness kick)