Pillow Academy took control of the game early and never looked back against a totally outmanned Kirk Academy team.
The Mustangs led 34-0 at the half and added on one score in the second half as PA substituted liberally in the final two quarters en route to a 40-0 victory Friday night in Grenada.
The game was played with a running clock in the second half.
It was the third straight shutout loss for Kirk (1-7), which was playing without several starters due to injury.
Pillow moves to 3-5 and will host archrival Washington School next week for a crucial North AAAA conference matchup. It’s a game the Mustangs need if they are going to make a push for their fourth straight trip to the postseason.
“It will be a big week for sure. I am sure both teams will have a great week of practice getting ready for this one,” PA coach Tripp McCarty said.
Pillow scored on its first possession — going 54 yards in three plays. Alex Tanksley bounced off a defender in the backfield and galloped around the left end for a 5-yard run to cap the quick drive.
PA turned the ball over at the Kirk 10-yard line on its next possession, and then went 46 yards in seven plays, capped by a 4-yard touchdown toss from quarterback Shane Houston Stephens to wide receiver Jaden Simcox to make it 14-0 with 5:57 left in the first quarter.
It was the first of four straight touchdown drives for Pillow.
Tanksley, a sophomore, again found the end zone, this time from13 yards out to make it 21-0 early in the second. Backup quarterback Christian Belk, a sophomore, had a 6-yard TD run to make it 28-0.
Junior Jack Reichle had a 6-yard scoring scamper to round out the first-half scoring.
Sophomore running back Bryce Miller had the final TD, busting loose for a 35-yard run midway through the third.
Stephens completed 7 of 13 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown in the first half. He added 35 yards on the ground on three carries and didn’t play in the second half.
Simcox had four catches for 77 yards.
Senior Lake Giachelli had 35 yards on three carries in the first half, and Miller finished with a team-high 85 yards on eight attempts.
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Lawes McCool and junior linebacker Jacob Bush each had six tackles.
Reichle had an interception.
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
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