Knight accounts for four TDs in Shaw win over Luella
Last November, the Shaw Raiders closed out the 2014 season with a narrow 48-38 loss in an offensive shootout against defending Region 1-AAAAA champion Harris County.
In their 2015 opener Friday night, the first for new head coach Chuck Stamey, the Raiders' offense picked up where they left off, avenging a season-opening loss last season at Luella with a 39-14 win over the Lions at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium.
As with last season, quarterback B.J. Knight spearheaded the Raider offense. Although Shaw ran 37 of 50 running plays Friday night, Knight's seven pass completions on 13 attempts were explosive. No pass went for fewer than 15 yards as Knight racked up 249 yards through the air and three touchdowns, the longest an 80-yard touchdown strike to Nick Beason in the second quarter. Beason picked up another 39-yard reception to lead the Raiders in receiving yards, while Sydarrian Cobb led in rushing, going for 79 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. Knight finished with 50 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown of his own. Beason also scored a rushing touchdown while Rodney Knight and Cam Paulding each had a receiving score.
Stamey praised all three offensive stars for their role in the victory.
"We knew who B.J. was from last year," Stamey said. "(Luella's) coach said that all through the offseason he thought he was a senior last year and it was kind of heartbreaking to see him on film again. Cobb has progressively become better ever since he was a freshman, and Nick is a complete weapon and is just unbelievable for his size."
Shaw's spread offensive attack Friday night looked very similar to the one under former head coach Kyle Adkins last season, but Stamey has put his stamp on it as well.
"From an offensive standpoint, there's been some tweaks to it," Stamey said. "It's just putting the ball in the best athletes' hands and putting them in open space."
The Raiders' defense also earned some kudos from Stamey after allowing 40 points to the same Luella team in a season opening loss in 2014 and allowing 28 points last week in a scrimmage at Macon County.
"Defensively, the leaps and bounds they came in just a week, we rebounded but we still got some things to work on," he said. "We had big pickups from Quentin Jackson, Tra Jones, DeQwondre Green and Jalon Williams. Across the board, the defense really picked themselves up and did a good job."
From a head coaching standpoint, Stamey had time to reflect on his first win at the helm for the Raiders.
"It's good as long as it's not the only one," Stamey said with a smile. "The good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we're going to get us another one.
"I really appreciate the support I've got from Shaw High School. The faculty has been 100 percent behind us and the administration has given me everything I need to be successful."
<b>Friday at Memorial StadiumLuella 0 6 0 8--14</b>
<b>Shaw 12 7 6 14--39First Quarter</b>
S - Rodney Clark 45 pass from B.J. Knight (kick failed), 6:20.
S - Sydarrian Cobb 1 run (run failed), 3:45.
<b>Second Quarter</b>
S - Nick Beason 80 pass from Knight (Joel Reguero kick), 6:51.
L - Will Thomas 11 run (pass failed), 1:01.
<b>Third Quarter</b>
S - Beason 15 run (kick failed), 1:48.
<b>Fourth Quarter</b>
S - Cam Paulding 15 pass from Knight (Gio Galvan kick), 8:14.
L - Thomas 1 run (Thomas run), 4:53.
S - Knight 19 run (Galvan kick), 2:04
Records: Shaw 1-0; Luella 0-1. Next: Shaw vs. Northgate, Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Kinnett Stadium.
This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 11:42 PM with the headline "Knight accounts for four TDs in Shaw win over Luella ."