Sports Editor

The Upson-Lee Middle School Knights are off to a great start and another chase towards a league championship. The Knights are now 3-0 after defeating Pike 36-0, Manchester 32-7, and just last Wednesday Kennedy Road 12-6.

Kennedy Road came out of the gates with a lot of sweeps, picking up huge chunks of yardage with each run. When Kennedy reached UL scoring position UL's Chad Watson came up with a big sack, causing a fumble that was recovered by Antwone Harris, and the Knights took over possession.

Tay Matthews and Myron Walker picked up a couple important first downs for the Knights on the ensuing drive. Just moments later Matthews connected on a long pass to Melvin Ferguson, who went all the way to the three yard line.

Matthews would score on a quarterback sneak, and after a failed two-point conversion the Knights were up 6-0 with just 26 seconds left in the first.

Kennedy slowly drove down the field this time, but a penalty eventually put them in a long yardage situation. They tried a halfback pass, but it was intercepted by UL defensive back Guy Robinson around the Knights 10 yard line, ending the half.

Kennedy Road came out fired up in the second half, and were determined to score on their opening drive.

After converting on a big fourth and 10 at midfield, they used big runs down to the 25, and then for a touchdown. Upson-Lee recovered a fumble on the two-point conversion, so with 2:43 left in the third quarter the game was tied 6-6.

On a big fourth down to start the fourth quarter UL quarterback Tay Matthews found Jalen Hammond on a tight end dump for the first down.

Brandon Smith then converted on a crucial third down. On a big fourth and five Kennedy jumped offsides, giving the Knights another first down.

A quarterback sneak picked up another first on the following fourth down inside the KMS 15 with under two minutes left in the game.

Myron Walker picked up a huge first down at the four yard line with 18 seconds left, and the Knights called timeout to think about it.

On the second play out of the timeout Tay Matthews threw a jumpball for tightend Jalen Hammond in the endzone, and Hammond caught the pass for the go-ahead touchdown with 13.8 seconds left in the game.

The two-point conversion was missed, but the Knights held on for the 12-6 victory, sealing the win over the team that put the Knights out of the playoffs last season.

Upson-Lee will host Taylor today at Matthews Field, and next week they will host Cowan Road.