WR shuts out Harleton

BREAK IT — West Rusk's Josh Medford (4) tries to escape from Harleton's Tamm Allen. LONGVIEW — Thursday night is a good night for football for pro and college teams, and proved to be a great start for the West Rusk High School Raiders, who defeated Harleton to open a season for the second straight year.

Coach John Frazier's Raiders (1-0) shut out the Wildcats, 14-0, Thursday night at Pine Tree Stadium here in Longview, a part of the annual Pine Tree Classic.

Neither team got on the scoreboard in the first quarter, but the Raiders changed that with 9:46 left in the half, as Chris Johnson scored on a 4-yard run, finishing a very long 17-play, 87-yard drive. Johnson had 57 of the 87 yards on eight carries. The point after was partially blocked, but the Raiders struck first, and led 6-0.

It would remain that way until the first play of the fourth quarter, when West Rusk would add an insurance touchdown. Quarterback Josh Medford hit Dominique Smith for a 7-yard pass to get the touchdown, and then Medford ran in the two-point conversion himself, putting WR up 14-0.

Medford had a good night: 77 yards on 13 carries, and completed 8-of-16 passes for 82 yards and the touchdown.

"He stands out," Frazier said. "He's very athletic. He made some great decisions on the options ...and did just a great job. I'm proud of him."

West Rusk limited Harleton to just 79 total yards in the contest, and only three first downs. "We really played well defensively all night," Frazier said. "...Offensively, we are going to have quit hurting ourselves. I thought we did a good job, but we keep having penalties, like jumping offsides, and fumbling the ball."

West Rusk turned the ball over three times: two fumbles and an interception, but did finish with 307 total yards, 225 of it on the ground.

Johnson finished with 61 yards and the touchdown on 10 carries. Dewayne Fisher had 11 carries for 49 yards, and Matt Davis had three carries, but picked up 6 hard-fought yards.

Gordon had five catches for 49 yards, and Smith finished with two for 23 yards and the fourth-quarter touchdown. Davis also had a catch for 10 yards.

The Raiders will play their home opener Friday night against T.K. Gorman, a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.