The Latta Vikings traveled to Johnsonville on Friday night for one of their toughest games of the season, falling 47-27 to the Flashes at Flashes Field.
Heading into the game, Latta’s R.J. McClam led the Pee Dee with 1,146 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns. But Johnsonville’s Tushai Edwards had 990 yards and 15 touchdowns of his own, and on Friday night he added four touchdowns and 368 yards on 26 carries to lead Johnsonville to the win.
Edwards made a 42-yard run on Johnsonville’s first possession and scored his first touchdown on the next play to put the Flashes up 7-0. But Latta responded with a 71-yard touchdown from McClam and scored another quick touchdown to take a 13-7 lead.
Johnsonville’s Arkelius Williams scored next on a 43-yard touchdown, and later caught a touchdown pass for the Flashes. A Latta turnover and a strong offensive line cleared the way for Edwards to make a 98-yard touchdown to put the Flashes further ahead, and Graham Blakely caught another touchdown pass from Evin Morris to end the scoring for Johnsonville.
With 34 seconds left in the game, McClam scored on a 1-yard touchdown to end the scoring for the Vikings.
On defense for Johnsonville, Arkelious Williams and Josh Franklin both forced fumbles and Franklin recovered both. Kyron Linnen also made two fumble recoveries.
The Latta Vikings slip to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in Region 8-A while the Flashes improved to 5-2 and 2-0. Johnsonville will host Lake View this Friday.
The Vikings will be on the road again this week to take on the Green Sea-Floyds Trojans at 7:30 p.m. The Trojans are 1-6 so far this season with their only win coming over Hannah-Pamplico, 13-3.