“Dirks runs wild.”
“Brinkley turns TOs into TDs.”
“Hedrick responds to QB emergency.”
Potential headlines were plentiful for West Forsyth following a 40-24 football victory over visiting Statesville last Friday night.
But to Titan coach Adrian Snow, “West wins” is the only one that matters.
Coming off of a disappointing 17-10 loss in a recent nonconference game with East Forsyth, West was a prime target against a talented and unfamiliar 3A opponent. The Greyhounds brought with them a quick-strike offense and a desperate need for an upset after opening the season with a pair of last-second losses.
Adding to the chances of a Titan letdown was the fact that Andy Weeks and Darian Slade, West’s first and second-string quarterbacks respectively, were out of action due to injuries.
So when Statesville took a 9-6 lead in the second quarter, Snow admitted to feeling a bit uneasy. “Those guys can play and we know how quickly they can put points on the board,” he said. “I was nervous at the point.”
But thanks to a couple of defensive scores — both by senior defensive end Quintin Brinkley — and the running of Dirks, West managed to fight off the threat and claim its third win in four games.
Dirks finished the night with 26 carries for 246 yards and three touchdowns. His highlight-reel plays included a sensational 85-yard breakaway run in the second quarter and a cutback 45-yard TD run in the third.
“Thomas (Sprinkle) made a nice block on the 45-yard play and I just took off after that,” Dirks explained. “Overall I just tried to step up and do what I could with Andy and Darian out. As an offensive unit, I think we proved that we can rally together and get the job done no matter what.”
Sandwiched around those two TDs were a pair of fumble-return touchdowns by Brinkley. A defensive standout, Brinkley posted his first two-score game since his days of being a two-way player for the Lewisville Titans and Forsyth County Broncos.
Forcing a loose ball on the …