Jamestown – For the first time since the 2022 season, the Andrews varsity football team advanced to the second round of the state playoffs.
The Wildcats made the long haul to Jamestown on Friday night to face the College Prep & Leadership Academy Royals in the first round of the 1A West bracket. In a four-quarter dogfight, the Wildcats prevailed 42-34 to advance to the second round.
The Royals were the first on the board with an early rushing touchdown. They failed the two-point conversion and led 6-0. That was the last time they led, despite it being a close game.
A few minutes later, the Cats got on the board with a rushing touchdown. They missed the extra point and the game was tied at 6.
Late in the first quarter, the Cats got their first lead of the game as they found the end zone on the ground. Brady McLelland competed a pass and successfully converted the two-point attempt to give Andrews a 14-6 lead.
The Royals scored first in the second quarter to close the gap. After a failed two-point conversion, the Cats led 14-12.
About halfway through the second quarter, the Cats extended their lead to 22-12. They found the end zone on the ground and also rushed in a two-point conversion.
The Royals closed the gap to two points again after a rushing touchdown and two-point conversion to make the game 22-20.
The Cats had the lead, but they weren’t done scoring in the first half. As time ticked down, McLelland completed a pass to Phisher Baxter for the touchdown. Andrews failed a two-point conversion but led 28-20 heading to halftime.
The first score of the second half cut the Cats’ lead to two points as the Royals rushed in a touchdown. They converted a two-point attempt to tie the game at 28.
The tie didn’t last long, however, as the Cats rushed in a touchdown and made the extra point to lead 35-28.
Coming down the stretch in the game, Wildcats head coach Jason Johnson’s message to the team was, “Just keep working. Just keep at it. Just keep fighting. And, you know, we’ll get a stop, and then we’ll get another score, and we’ll win this football game.”
Andrews extended its lead in the fourth quarter with a rushing touchdown and made the extra point to lead 42-28. The Royals cut into the lead late with a rushing touchdown, but a two-point conversion attempt failed and the Cats led 42-34.
Andrews was able to get into victory formation and run the clock out to win the game.
The Cats were led by Kelby Waldroup, who had three touchdowns on the ground. McLelland had two rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown to Baxter.
Johnson said he was happy with his players’ efforts Friday night.
“They gave great effort, faced some adversity early on, and they just fought through and kept fighting. You know, they were resilient and just kept going,” he said.
“They never stopped, and they executed like we wanted them to execute. We handled the bus ride and came back home with a victory.”
Johnson said it just came down to getting first downs to help run the clock out and get the win.
Andrews will face a familiar foe in the second round, as they travel to Robbinsville to face the Black Knights in their second meeting this season.
Johnson said it will help the Cats that they have seen them before this season. To prepare, they will rewatch film from their first meeting. They will have to execute, make plays and be solid at 7 p.m. Friday as they head to Robbinsville for the second round matchup.