COLLINSVILLE — West Lauderdale’s defense allowed just nine points per game to opposing offenses heading into its playoff opener against Vancleave. So when Vancleave scored 15 points through the first half, the Knights took it personally. Knights coach Brock Clay challenged his defensive unit in the locker room at halftime, and it responded by shutting down Vancleave for 20 of the second half’s 24 minutes. West Lauderdale earned a 28-22 home victory Friday to advance to the second round of the MHSAA Class 4A postseason. With the win, West Lauderdale advances and will host Florence next Friday for the second-round matchup. Sound, fundamental play has been a source of pride for the West Lauderdale defense (11-1) all season, and keeping opponents from the end zone each time the unit takes the field is always the objective. “Any time there are points on the board, we’re not happy,” West Lauderdale defensive lineman Luke Lott said. “(Coach) Clay told us this could be our last (game), go out there and show everything we have and give everything we’ve got. And that’s what we did.” Vancleave (5-6) running back C.J. Johnson entered the postseason with 1,152 yards. West Lauderdale limited Johnson to 70 yards on 19 carries. He finished with a 3.8 yards-per-carry average. “Usually, when we work during practice, we work on technique; and when we work that technique, we win games,” West Lauderdale linebacker Austin Wilkinson said. “At halftime, we worked that technique, and that’s how we won the ball game. That’s how we win ball games. Thomas Webster paced the West Lauderdale defense with 12 total tackles, Wilkinson posted seven total tackles and Lott finished with six total tackles, including a sack. An opening kickoff personal foul penalty on Vancleave gave the Knights the football at midfield, and West Lauderdale quarterback Austin Davidson dropped a perfectly placed pass to receiver Bradlee Ott one play later to bring the Knights’ offense down to Vancleave’s 2-yard line. Taylor Turnage broke a 2-yard touchdown run with 11:40 remaining in the first quarter. T.J. Hersey ran in the two-point conversion to put West Lauderdale ahead 8-0. Vancleave forced a West Lauderdale turnover on downs in the opening quarter to set up first down in Knights’ territory, and Johnson threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Cade Thrash on a designed running back throw. The Bulldogs converted the two-point conversion to tie the score at 8 with 1:53 left in the opening quarter. West Lauderdale responded late in the first period when Turnage broke a 32-yard touchdown run to push the Knights ahead 14-8 after the missed extra-point attempt. Turnage rushed for a game-high 123 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. With 11:49 left in the second quarter, Vancleave quarterback Roy Johnson connected with Thrash for a 76-yard touchdown, and the successful PAT gave the Bulldogs a 15-14 lead. Vancleave’s lead didn’t last for long. West Lauderdale’s Eli Bryan dashed 8 yards on a touchdown run just 36 seconds later. The Knights’ PAT attempt was blocked, but Bryan’s rushing score gave them a 20-15 lead. Davidson found Ott for a 29-yard touchdown with 5:25 remaining in the second quarter, and the quarterback rifled a short pass to Braden Luke for the two-point conversion to give West Lauderdale a 28-15 advantage. C.J. Johnson threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Thrash with 4:04 left in the final quarter to make the score 28-22 in West Lauderdale’s favor, after the PAT. Ott pulled in six catches for a game-high 156 yards and one touchdown. Davidson was 9 of 14 for 190 passing yards with one touchdown. Bryan finished with 15 yards rushing and one touchdown on 10 carries. “We knew that they were a really good football team coming in, and they do a great job of keeping the football and they’re very sound offensively,” Clay said. “It was really scary for us, knowing what that offense can do… They’re a very good football team. I hate to use the cliche, but a lot better than the 5-5 record they came in here with. The kids fought really hard on both sides. Very proud to come out with a W, especially when we feel like we didn’t necessarily play our best game in the first half.”