Spartans 2-0 for first time since 2002

OAKWOOD -- For the first time since 2002 the West Hall football team has opened with two straight wins after taking a 21-3 win over Pickens in Region 7-AAA action.

The Spartans (2-0) scored the final 21 points to erase an early 3-0 Pickens lead behind the combination of quarterback Shunquez Stephens and brother Marquise Stephens.

Shunquez Stephens was 11-for-21 for 143 yards and two touchdowns while Marquise Stephens rushed 17 times for 72 yards and caught three passes for 25 yards and one score. Rodney Gibson had six catches for 106 yards and one TD for the Spartans.

It was the season-opener for Pickens (0-1) which was led by Alex Willingham, who had 89 yards passing and 62 yards on the ground. Raymond Bennett had four catches for 97 yards and two carries for 20 yards for the Dragons.

West Hall will play host to Gilmer next week, while Pickens will play host to West Forsyth.

West Hall vs. Pickens Final Stats

Shunquez Stephens: 11-21, 143 yds, 2 TD; 6 carries, 11 yds
Marquise Stephens: 17 car, 72 yds, TD; 3 catches, 25 yds, TD
Rodney Gibson: 6 catches, 106 yds, TD
Brandon Fuqua: 2 catches, 12 yds
Terrell Penland: 1 car, 7 yds

Offense: 233 yards, 10 first downs, 7 penalties for 55 yds


Pickens:
Alex Willingham: 3-7, 89 yds; 5 car, 62 yds
Jessie Cantrell: 2-8, 15yds; 4 car, 25 yds
Desmond Howell: 2 car, 10 yds
Brett Lawson: 5 car, 2 yds
Chris Brown: 2 car, 3 yds
Raymond Bennett: 4 catches, 97 yds; 2 car, 20 yds
Chris Bennett: 1 catch, 7 yds

Offense: 226 yards, 9 first downs, 11 penalties for 105 yds

Score by quarters:
East Jackson: 3, 0, 0, 0=3
West Hall: 7, 7, 7, 0=21

1st: Pickens-20 yd FG at 6:38
WH-S. Stephens 22 yd pass to M. Stephens at 3:11
2nd: WH-S. Stephens 17 yd pass to Gibson at 7:55
3rd: WH- M. Stephens 40 yd run at 1:59

-- Steven Leech contributed to this report