Palestine Westwood Closes Non-District Play With Win Against Anderson-Shiro

ANDERSON – Palestine Westwood rebounded from a sluggish first half and rolled to a 49-13 win over Anderson-Shiro in a non-district game at Owl Stadium on Friday.

Westwood outscored Anderson-Shiro, 35-6, in the second half.

Quarterback D.J. Hicks rushed for 155 yards and three scores on just eight carries, including a 45-yard scoring burst to give Westwood a 28-13 lead with 6:32 left in the third quarter.

On the ensuing drive, Westwood safety Devin Lomax returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown to remove all doubt.

Westwood concluded non-district play with a 5-0 overall record and set up a showdown with Malakoff to open District 11-3A Division I play next Friday at Panther Stadium. Malakoff, which was idle on Friday, is also 5-0 and ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press' Class 3A state poll.

Anderson-Shiro dropped to 1-4, but didn't look like a one-win team early.

On the first play from scrimmage Daylan Williams broke free for an 88-yard touchdown run.

The Owls threatened to make it a two-score lead on their second drive, but on a fourth-and-goal play from the Westwood 3 the Panthers held Williams a yard short.

That appeared to wake Westwood.

Two plays later, Hicks broke free for a 97-yard touchdown, The Panthers then marched 52 yards on their second drive, capped by a 6-yard touchdown run by Hicks to give Westwood a 14-7 lead with 7:43 left in the first half.

The Panthers needed just five plays and 1:01 for a scoring drive to open the second half, capped by a 6-yard touchdown run by Red Horse Warren.

Baker finished with 126 yards on 18 carries while Warren scored two touchdowns.

Anderson-Shiro did counter with its own score, a 45-yard run by Brad Johnson set up a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Dylan Bohnert.

But the Owls never seriously threatened again.

Strong play by Westwood's defensive line set up Lomax for his second pick with two seconds left in the third quarter. The turnover set up a 98-yard drive by the Panthers, capped with a 15-yard touchdown run by Steven Green.

Westwood's offensive line led the charge as the Panthers finished with 380 yards rushing.

Hicks completed both of his pass attempts in the game for 44 yards, both receptions by Lomax.

Noland Lumberarez also had an interception for Westwood.