After quiet first half, Lions turn to Fields to get it going
Keyshawn Fields watched from the sideline as the Yates’ offense struggled throughout a scoreless first half.
That was tough for the big sophomore, but he’s tougher.
Fields directed three straight scoring drives to start the second half, capping two with touchdown runs as he rallied the Lions to a 22-6 victory over Wheatley on Saturday night at Barnett Stadium.
“If my team needs help, I’m going to do whatever it takes to help tshem, and I’m going to keep doing it until we make it to the championship,” Fields said.
Yates stayed perfect with the win — 4-0 overall and 2-0 in District 11-4A-I.
“They said Yates football was dead,” Yates coach Michael Watkins said. “It’s not.
“It’s here. The kids are here, our community’s thriving, Third Ward is here, football is back, and we’re inviting everybody to come on back out and support the guys.”
But Yates wasn’t perfect in the first half when neither offense showed for the first 23 minutes, 48 seconds.
Wheatley (2-2, 1-1) and Yates combined for nine punts and three turnovers on the game’s first 12 possessions. A spark on offense
Then the Wildcats found a way onto the scoreboard with 12 seconds to go in the second quarter. On fourth-and-4, Trevon Neal took a screen pass from quarterback Harold Cooks to the house for a 39-yard touchdown.
The extra-point try failed, leaving them with a 6-0 lead at halftime.
Yates quarterback Taj Gregory had as many interceptions as passing yards at the break, with Wheatley’s Gervon Livingston and JaCarl Davis both supplying picks.
The Lions had only 81 total yards — offset by 65 penalty yards — at halftime.
But Fields checked in for the final play, threw a 15-yard pass to Reginald Hines, and didn’t come back out.
“We have several guys on this team that can play quarterback, it’s just guys have to stay ready to go, stay motivated, and when your numbers called, let’s go for it,” Watkins said.
With the 6-2, 210-pound Fields at the helm, Yates opened the third quarter with a 16-play, 71-yard drive that featured two fourth-down conversions and a 1-yard TD run by Fields. Taking control
Reginald Bryant’s twopoint run gave the Lions their first lead — and they were off.
Bryant scored again on a 20-yard run for a 16-6 lead — after Jordan Huffpower’s two-point conversion — and then Fields capped a third consecutive scoring drive with a 1-yard run for a 22-6 edge.
“Fields stepped up and showed his leadership capabilities, and I’m grateful,” Watkins said.