Pirates fall in season opener to Corner 32-13

WINFIELD — The Winfield Pirates could not overcome a slow start, falling to the Corner Yellow Jackets 32-13 in the season opener at Estes Hudson Stadium in Winfield on Thursday, Aug. 22.
The loss was the first season-opening loss for the Pirates since 2015 against Fayette County.
Both teams struggled early, and it became a defensive battle until late in the second quarter when the Yellow Jackets used a big play to get on the scoreboard.
Corner found the end zone with 3:47 left in the second quarter, scoring on a 46-yard run by Spencer Unruh.
Corner’s 2 point conversion attempt was no good, but the Yellow Jackets had taken a 6-0 lead.
On the ensuing drive, the Pirates began their drive at their own 5-yard line. Winfield used a mix of runs and passes to move the football down to the Yellow Jacket 18-yard line before the drive stalled to end the first half.
Later in the third quarter, the Yellow Jackets got back on the scoreboard with a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Keaton Coffee to receiver Rhett Cofer.
Bradley Turner’s extra point was good in pushing the Corner lead to 13-0 with 4:49 left in the third stanza.
Following a fumble on the Pirates’ ensuing possession, Corner took over at the Winfield 10-yard line and needed one play to reach the end zone as Coffee passed to Unruh out of the backfield for a 20-yard touchdown.
The extra point missed its mark, but the Yellow Jackets lead stretched to 19-0 with 4:05 left in the third quarter.
Another turnover by Winfield gave the ball back to the Yellow Jackets at midfield. One play later, Unruh scored on a 50-yard touchdown run, and after the missed extra point, the lead was 25-0 with 11:40 left in the game.
Winfield got on the board on their next possession as quarterback Brady May found Garrett Beasley on a deep pass for a 38-yard touchdown.
Kyson Key’s extra point was good, and the Pirates cut the lead to 25-7 with 7:34 left in the game.
Corner added another touchdown as Unruh scored on a 5-yard run and pushed the lead to 32-13 with the extra point.
On the ensuing kickoff, Winfield’s Keylan Hughes took in the kick at his 6-yard line and weaved his way through defenders for a 94-yard kick return touchdown.
May’s 2 point conversion pass was incomplete, and the Pirates still trailed 32-13 with 5:49 left in the game.
Both teams failed to move the ball in the waning moments as time expired on the season opener.
Winfield finished the game with 182 total yards, with 122 passing and 60 rushing yards.
May completed 14-of-24 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown.
Beasley led the receivers with 4 catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. Sean Wyers caught 4 passes for 46 yards. Hayden Ballard caught one pass for 17 yards, and Hughes and Kruz Box each had 2 catches for 5 yards.
Hughes led the rushing attack with 13 attempts for 28 yards. Key ran 4 times for 19 yards, and Ballard ran 4 times for 10 yards. Jamykal Hackman ran once on a fake punt for 16 yards, and Declyn Morgan ran once for 2 yards.
Winfield (0-1) will travel this week to take on the Sulligent Blue Devils on Friday, Aug. 30.