By Craig Brown
The Latta High School Vikings defeated the Flashes of Johnsonville High School 54-23 Friday night in Latta.
Latta was observing Homecoming and the win gives them a 5-0 on the season.
Latta never let the Flashes in the game as they jumped out to a 21-0 lead with only 2 minutes and six seconds off the clock. I have never seen three touchdowns scored in that time. Latta started off with Kartrell Townsend racing 65 yards for the touchdown. Conley Dailey added the point after kick to put Latta up 7-0 with 11:47 left in the first quarter. Latta would recover the kickoff and Thomas Jones would finish the drive with a three-yard touchdown run. The point after kick was off but Latta was up 13-0 with 10:46 left in the first quarter. Latta again recovered the kickoff and this offensive drive ended with Jamarion Jones racing 40 yards for the touchdown. Jones would added the two-point conversion to put Latta up 21-0 with 9:54 left in the first quarter. La’Bron Cobb picked up the Vikings fourth score on a 20-yard TD pass from Cobb to Jacob Hopkins. Dailey’s point after kick increased the Viking lead to 28-0 with 2:27 left in the first quarter. The first quarter would end with this score.
The Flashes got on the board on a 28-yard touchdown run with the point after closing the Viking lead to 28-7 with 8:11 left in the second quarter.
Latta finished their next drive with Jamarion Jones crossing the goal line from nine yards out. The kick was off holding the Viking lead to 34-7 with 7:04 left in the second quarter.
The Flashes would score on a 16-yard TD pass with the point after kick closing the Viking lead to 34-14 with 4:24 left in the second quarter.
Cobb finished the next Viking drive with a 30-yard touchdown run. The point after kick was off holding the Viking lead to 40-14 with 3:18 left in the second quarter. The Vikings recovered another kickoff and finished the short drive with Jamarion Jones getting a 27-yard touchdown run. Thomas Jones ran in the conversion to give the Vikings a 48-14 halftime lead.
Offensively the third quarter belonged to the Flashes as they would score on a 62-yard touchdown pass and make a 30-yard field goal to end the third quarter trailing Latta 48-23.
With 6:55 left in the fourth quarter Jamarion Jones would race 68 yards for the touchdown. The conversion failed and Latta would get the 54-23 win.
On offense for the Vikings, Jamarion Jones had 261 yards on 15 carries with four touchdowns, La’Bron Cobb had 55 yards passing with a touchdown and had 104 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown, Kartrell Townsend had a 65-yard touchdown run, Jacob Hopkins caught two passes for 28 yards and a touchdown, Thomas Jones had a touchdown run, Amir Rogers and Purnell Legett had plus yardage. On defense, Eli Jones had 12 tackles; Dorian Griffin had 10 tackles; Slaydon Strickland had seven tackles; Michael McKenzie, Kartrell Townsend, and Thomas Jones had five tackles each; Jakoby German had four tackles with a sack; Amir Rogers and Purnell Legette had three tackles; Tyquan Drawhorn had two tackle; and Fisher Richardson and Enriquez Purnell added a tackle each.
Latta will travel to Cheraw this Friday, September 22, to face the Cheraw Braves in game beginning at 7:30 p.m.

PHOTO GALLERY: Latta Homecoming Game 2023
Photos by Craig Brown