Defending 4A champion Westside football holds on vs Creekside (Ga.) in 2024 season opener

ANDERSON — Defending state champion Westside had its ups and downs in the season opener.

And then did some up-downs.

Westside nearly let a 30-point lead slip away Saturday night but held on to beat Creekside (Georgia) 30-27 in the late game of the Turf Kings Classic doubleheader to begin the season . The Rams won Class AAAA last season, and Creekside made it to Georgia’s Class AAAAA final.

Westside had a 14-0 lead after its first two possessions and a 30-0 lead at halftime. But injuries and a rash of personal foul penalties let Creekside get back in. The Seminoles got within 10 points with 10 minutes left, three points with 2:49 left, got a stop on defense and had a chance with the ball near midfield when time ran out.

Afterward, Westside coach Brian Lane had his players doing up-downs and sideline-to-sideline sprints — or at least as fast as the Rams could go after playing a full game. Lane said he has never done that in his 25-year coaching career.

“In the second half, we started cramping up and losing guys,” Lane said. “We probably had seven guys cramp up and then go back out there. Then we kind of lost our composure there with penalties and almost let the game get away from us.

“But at the end of the day, we got a victory. Any time you win, it’s good.”

Westside quarterback Cutter Woods passed for three touchdowns. The first two went to Chamarryus Bomar, who scored from 19 and 33 yards out.

Sharode Richardson had a touchdown run to make it 23-0 and also had a pair of interceptions.

Westside has an open date next week and will play Sept. 6 at T.L. Hanna in a crosstown rivalry game.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Defending 4A champion Westside football holds on vs Creekside (Ga.) in 2024 season opener