Photos by F. Brian Ferguson
Independence all-state running back Atticus Goodson has terrorized opposing defenses under the Friday night lights
Turns out, the A-Train is just as scary under the Tuesday night skies.
Playing an early-week rescheduled contest against Westside, Goodson ran for 190 yards and four touchdowns on just seven carries to lead the Patriots to a 63-14 pounding of the Renegades.
“We wanted to come out early and take care of business and let the young kids play in the second half,” Independence head football coach John H. Lilly said. “I think Westside got some work against our young kids which gave them some live practice too. I am really proud of our kids because they came out and did exactly what I asked them to do tonight.”
The Renegades entered the game with a depleted roster and had had no football activities for nearly a week due to Covid quarantine.
Upsetting the Class AA No. 4 rated Patriots seemed like a very tall task, and it was.
Tyler Linkswiler took the opening kick-off back to the Westside 40-yard line, giving the Patriots great field position.
After a five-yard illegal participation foul on the visitors, Goodson rambled 35 yards for a score on the game’s first play.
Making things worse for Westside was the fact that they could not win the battle of field position and get anything going against the first team defense of the Patriots.
A three-and out was followed by a 16-yard punt which gave Indy the ball back at the Renegades’ 30-yard line.
Goodson first ran for 20 yards and then scored with ease on a 10-yard jaunt for a 13-0 lead with 9:05 left in the opening quarter.
“I am really proud of Atticus,” Lilly said. “Last year he had to carry us. This year we have some weapons that can help him out.”
Three of those lethal weapons showed up on the next Independence series.
Judah Price returned a punt 35-yards into Westside territory before quarterback Logan Phalin tossed a strike to Trey Bowers for a 17-yard touchdown.
Price then recovered a fumble on the next Westside possession. Two plays later the Phalin to Bowers combo struck again from 25 yards for a 25-0 lead.
“Logan has a cannon and we have some really fast wide receivers. I’m really thankful for all of them,” Goodson said.
While it seemed the quarter would never end for the Renegades, Independence was far from done scoring behind its precision offense.
In the final two minutes, Goodson rambled nearly untouched 55 yards for a score before Phalin tossed another strike to Price for a 37-0 lead after just 12 minutes.
“We are working towards some things, and we have some veterans out there,” Lilly said. “Even though we only have four seniors, the others are playing older that what they are.”
Even though the second quarter was shortened to eight minutes, the Patriots kept scoring at will.
Colton Miller ran a punt back 37 yards for a score before Westside finally found the end zone. Jaxon Cogar broke the drought for Westside with a 32 -yard pass to Hansel Bledsoe.
Independence history was made on the next series when Goodson raced 55-yards for his fourth touchdown of the night.
Although he did not play football his freshman season, Goodson eclipsed 4,000 yards for his career on the run.
“Atticus has 4,000 yards in two-and-a half seasons and hasn’t played in the second half of at least six games,” Lilly said, “I don’t know if that hurts him for what he deserves, but he carried us until the other guys grew up, Now they are grown up and he can share the wealth a little bit. He works hard and he is a good kid.”
Humble as always, Goodson passed the praise on to his teammates.
“It’s a great feeling. I have to give a big thanks to the O-line because there is nothing, I can do without them,” Goodson said. “It’s just great to play well in front of a great crowd. I love this place and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Independence capped the first half scoring on a 20-yard keeper from Phalin after Westside fumbled the ensuing kickoff.
“We knew what we had to do, and we wanted to come out and play well in the first half and let the young guys have some fun,” Goodson said.
One of the young guys that saw some action was Linkswiler who scored on a one-yard run. The touchdown was set up by a 22-yard run from J.D. Monroe.
Cogar and Bledsoe hooked up again for a 19-yard score in the third quarter.
Independence (3-0) travels to longtime rival Summers County Friday night, while Westside will host Shady Spring.
“I told them, 24-hour rule. Then we get ready for Summers County,” Lilly said.
W: 0 8 0 6 – 14
I: 37 20 0 6 – 63
First quarter
I: A. Goodson 35 run (A. Goodson kick)
I: A. Goodson 10 run (kick no good)
I: Trey Bowers 17 pass from Logan Phalin (kick no good)
I: Bower 25 pass from Phalin (pass failed)
I: A. Goodson 55 run (kick no good)
I: Judah Price 19 pass from Phalin (kick blocked)
Second quarter
I: Colton Miller 37 puny return (pass failed)
W: Hansel Bledsoe 32 pass from Jaxson Cogar (Cogar rush)
I: A. Goodson 55 run
I: Phalin 20 run (Cyrus Goodson pass from Phalin)
Third quarter
W: Bledsoe 19 pass from Cogar (rush failed)
Fourth quarter
I: Linkswiler 1 run (rush failed)
Team stats
Rushing: (W) Derrick Taylor 11-50, Blake Bledsoe 2-(-6), Hansel Bledsoe 2-1, Team 1-(-15), Cogar 8-10. (I) Goodson 7-190-4, Phalin 1-20-1, Linkswiler 3-7-1, Miller 2-16, Monroe 1-22.
Passing: (W) Cogar 5-16-76-2; (I) Phalin 3-4-61-3, Monroe 1-1-2
Receiving: Hansel Bledsoe 2-46-2, Noah Lusk 1-7, Blake Bledsoe 2-23; (I) Bowers 2-42-2, Price 1-19-1, Jeremy Hughes 1-2.