Auburn High topples top-ranked Central 38-33, takes region lead
BY DAVID YOHN
FOR THE OBSERVER
PHENIX CITY — The matchup between the top two teams in 7-A did not disappoint, as the Auburn High Tigers traveled to Phenix City and took down the No.1-ranked Red Devils of Central High by a score of 38-33. The two heavyweights exchanged blows during the first half, answering every touchdown with one of their own.
Auburn took advantage of a holding penalty against Central on its first play from scrimmage and forced the Red Devils to punt from their own 7-yard line. Senior signal caller Jackson Kilgore found Peyton Plott for a 20-yard gain on first down, and two plays later Omar Mabson took the ball 10 yards to the end zone to give Auburn the early 7-0 lead.
Central wasted no time answering, covering 80 yards in eight plays. The Red Devils scored on fourth down and five from 20 yards out, but Auburn maintained a slim 7-6 lead thanks to a blocked PAT.
The Tigers responded with their own long drive, going 70 yards in just five plays. Kilgore connected with Joshua Askew twice, the latter resulting in a 17-yard gain. The Red Devils were guilty of a late hit on that play, giving the Tigers a first down at the Central 24-yard line. Kilgore found Plott for the second time to put Auburn up 14-6 late in the first quarter.
Central then put together their longest drive of the night in terms of time consumed as they chewed up nearly six minutes. With 9:14 remaining in the second quarter, Auburn’s lead was once again a single point at 14-13.
The Tigers had good field position to start their next drive, and they had two productive plays before a holding penalty backed them up to their own 20-yard line. Facing a first and 35 situation, the Kilgore to Plott combination worked again for an 80-yard touchdown. The Tigers extended their lead to 21-13, but Central would not back down.
The Red Devils found success running and passing, and they converted on a key fourth down at the Tiger 38-yard line. The impressive 14-play drive covered 80 yards and again cut the Auburn lead to one point, at 21-20.
Auburn managed just four yards on its opening drive of the second half. Following a punt, Central took over at its own 30-yard line. Less than two minutes later, Tristan Williams scored from 30 yards out and the Red Devils took their first lead of the night at 27-21.
The Tigers failed to pick up a first down on their ensuing drive, but neither could the Red Devils following the Auburn punt. Jackson Lovvorn stuffed the Central run on fourth and one at midfield, giving the Tigers great field position. Kilgore took to the air on first down, connecting with Mabson on a wheel route that resulted in a touchdown for Auburn. With 6:46 to go in the third quarter, the Tigers regained the lead at 28-27.
Central could not pick a first down as the Auburn defense stiffened. Alex Gamston nearly intercepted the Red Devils’ pass attempt on third down, but Central had to punt nonetheless. The Tigers’ drive stalled, but Joseph Daniel connected on a 41-yard field goal to extend the lead to 31-27.
The Red Devils would threaten on their next drive, benefiting greatly from a pass interference call. After three consecutive incompletions, however, the Tigers took over on downs. Starting from their own 18-yard line, Auburn looked to burn time off the clock. Mabson ultimately found the end zone from 14 yards out, but the combination of Kilgore to Joshua Askew was key on Auburn’s final scoring drive of the night. Their first connection was good for 13 yards, but the second time was good for 34 yards on a play that will surely be on the Auburn highlight reel for some time to come.
Facing a 38-27 deficit, the Red Devils refused to go away quietly. Central needed less than two minutes to score, converting on a critical fourth and one play near midfield. Williams gained 36 yards following that conversion, and then scored on the next play from 18 yards out. Looking to cut the lead to three, Central elected to go for the two-point conversion. La’Mychael Gunn came up big for the Tigers, denying the Red Devils’ attempt.
With 4:17 remaining in the game, Auburn took over at its own 26-yard line. Looking to preserve their 38-33 lead, the Tigers faced fourth and less than a yard to go from their own 36-yard line. Kilgore sneaked for the first down, then Mabson picked up positive yardage on the next three plays. The Tigers could finally line up in victory formation and celebrate their hard-fought 38-33 win over the top-ranked Red Devils.
“Huge win, a great team win,” Kilgore said. “The defense made plays that set us up in good field position, and we took advantage of that. I hope that this is a statement to teams all around to not underestimate us. Beating Central is pretty fun!”
Auburn’s Head Coach, Keith Etheredge, added, “Central is a great football team. They are well coached. They have athletes all over the place, and our kids were amazing tonight. We talked to them at halftime about making one more play than them.”
Auburn now stands alone atop the region 2 standings at 6-0 (4-0 in region play). Carver Montgomery suffered its first loss, dropping a 17-14 game to Enterprise. Carver, Central and Opelika are deadlocked at 3-1 in region play. Auburn faces a struggling Smiths Station team next week before traveling to Carver. The Tigers close out regular season play on Oct. 25 at home versus Dothan. The road to a region championship is now clear for the Tigers following their big win at Central.
When asked about taking over as the new number one ranked team in 7-A, Coach Etheredge said, “That sounds good, but I want to be there at the end of the season!”
Glenwood defends home turf against Randolph County
BY NOAH GIRFFITH
FOR THE OBSERVER
PHENIX CITY — The Glenwood Gators are riding high at 6-0.
In the Swamp of Phenix City, Alabama, Glenwood won its second consecutive shootout on Friday. It defeated Randolph County (5-1) by a score of 68-40.
The Gators are still yet to lose a game in its first year in the AHSAA, and now they are 4-0 in 3A Region 4 play. The squad continues to gain confidence with each touchdown they score, and lately, that has happened a lot.
Glenwood seems to have found a new strategy – shoot the lights out and get more possessions than the other team.
Behind senior quarterback Levi Pinder, the Glenwood offense has been as explosive as it gets. It has scored a combined 130 points over the last two weeks, but the defense has also allowed 78 points in those games. The Gators defeated Beulah, 62-38, in their last contest before handing the Tigers their first loss in another high-scoring affair this week.
Senior running back Jermaine Brown ran the ball 17 times for 213 yards and two touchdowns, while senior Makai Simpson scored four times for his second game in a row – three times on the ground and once through the air. Meanwhile, Pinder completed 12-of-15 passes for 246 yards, two TDs and no interceptions.
Along with scoring 10 total TDs, the Gators capitalized on a blocked punt, a fumble recovery and a forced turnover on downs. Despite allowing 461 yards of total offense, Glenwood held Randolph to 3-for-9 on third down conversions along with those turnovers.
Even in a 28-point win, Glenwood displayed resilience by punching back when it was tested.
Although Glenwood took a 41-21 lead to halftime and led for the entire second half, the Tigers put up a fight early on. Randolph went ahead, 21-20, with 7:14 remaining in the second quarter. However, Brown answered with an 8-yard TD run less than a minute later, allowing Glenwood to take the lead for good.
After Randolph took that second-quarter lead, Glenwood answered with four straight TDs to take control of the game at 48-21. It took a score with 2:45 left in the fourth quarter for Randolph to notch 40 points.
Nelson’s squad also displayed its consistency by winning each quarter.
Glenwood logged its most points in the second quarter with 28, but it also reached the end zone twice in every other quarter to take the advantage in each frame. Glenwood is also establishing a consistent rushing attack, as this is the second game in a row in which the combination of Brown and Simpson have rumbled into the end zone at least five times.
The Gators are setting new standards of explosiveness, resilience and consistency this year in their quest to avenge last season’s AISA state title loss to Lee-Scott Academy. This is their second 6-0 start in a row, and they’re looking for their first state championship since 1992 and the fourth in program history.
On Friday, Oct. 11, Glenwood will look to stay hot in another region matchup on the road at Dadeville (1-5), who is coming off its first win of the season last week at Lee-Scott.
Under the lights — Week 7
BY D. MARK MITCHELL
FOR THE OBSERVER
EAST ALABAMA —The following are scores from last week and this week’s games for our local teams.
Auburn (6-0) beat Central 38-33 last week and will host SSHS this week;
Beauregard (5-2) beat Holtville 21-0, will be open this week;
Lee-Scott (4-2) lost to Dadeville 10-13, will host Wadley at Judd Scott field;
Benjamin Russell (3-4) lost to Helena 55-14, will be open this week:
Bealuh (5-2) beat BB Comer 43-40, will be open this week;
Chambers Academy (6-1) beat Evangel Alabaster 39-0, will be open this week;
Glenwood (7-0) beat Randolph County, will play at Dadeville Friday;
LaFayette (3-3) open last week, will play at Reeltown Friday;
Lanett (4-3) lost 40-0 to Reeltown, will play at Central Coosa;
Loachapoka beat Coosa Central 58-14, will host Horsehoe Bend Friday;
Notasulga lost 12-28 to Verbena, will play at Ellwood Christian;
Russell County (6-1) beat Stanhope 42-28, open this week;
SSHS (0-7) lost to JAG 28-14, will play at AHS Friday;
Southern Prep beat Lakeside 40-13, will play at North River Christian;
Springwood (5-2) beat Evangel 88-58, will play at Meadowview;
Valley (3-3) beat Sylacauga 26-7, will host Elmore County.
