Special to the Opelika Observer
The Beauregard Hornets opened up the 2012 football season against Central of Clay County in one of the “Champions Challenge” games in Montgomery’s Crampton Bowl.
The AHSAA started playing three football games the week before the regular season started for the rest of the public schools.
The Hornets were beaten 25-13 by Central of Clay County, Lineville and Clay County combined to form this school over the summer.
The Hornets made some mistakes and missed a few key opportunities. The first was a turnover on the first play from scrimmage then Beauregard muffed a punt which was recovered by the Vols.
Head coach Smitty Grider was not happy with the miscues even though the game does not count on the seasons’ record.
“We made a season’s worth of mistakes in the first half, dropped balls and missed passes. If we don’t make those mistakes, it’s a totally different ballgame,” said Grider after the game.
The muff set up Central’s second touchdown, seven-yard-run by Tyrone Crosby to extend the lead to 13-0.
Beauregard’s first TD was a result of a blocked punt that Charles Motley returned for six points.
The Vols scored on the next possesion on a 43-yard-pass a minute later. Central led 20-7 at half. Neither team scored in the third quarter while each one scored a touchdown in the fourth.
The Hornets started several players that did not play much last year which will help the team as the season continues. The bright spot on defense was linebacker Dake Rivers, who led the team with 12 tackles.
Beauregard will play at 3A Handley Friday night at 7 p.m. The Hornets will open Region play next week at home against Charles Henderson.