By Ashley Massey | For The Observer
OPELIKA — Senior running back Tae Foreman carried Beauregard to a 34-30 victory over
Sylacauga on Friday night, rushing for 137 yards and three touchdowns in a thrilling matchup at
Hornet Stadium. Foreman’s late touchdown, combined with a strong defensive stand in the final
minutes, proved to be the difference in a game marked by big plays and multiple lead changes.
The Hornets struck first in the opening quarter with Foreman, who powered through the
Aggies’ defense for a 40-yard rushing touchdown. Beauregard missed the extra point, leaving the
score 6-0 early in the game. Sylacauga answered quickly on its next possession. Aggie
quarterback C.J. Franklin found receiver Tyler Tarpley for a 27-yard touchdown pass. With the
extra point, the Aggies took a 7-6 lead, giving Beauregard an early challenge to overcome.
Beauregard wasted little time responding and immediately took the initiative. On the kickoff
following Sylacauga’s touchdown, the Hornets broke free for a kick return, energizing the home
crowd. Another missed PAT kept Beauregard ahead 12-7, but it was enough to maintain the lead
for the remainder of the first quarter.
To kick off the second quarter, Sylacauga’s Anderson Adair added a field goal to tighten the gap
to 12-10. Shortly after, Franklin launched a deep strike to wide receiver Markel Riley, covering
78 yards and putting the Aggies back in front with a score of 17-12.
Luckily for Beauregard, they countered just before halftime. After a long breakaway drive down
the field, the offensive team was left at the 2-yard line. Foreman secured the extra six points with
a rushing touchdown, his second of the game. With an attempt to make the lead higher for the
Hornets, they went for a two-point conversion, in which they were successful, which gave
Beauregard a 20-17 advantage going into the locker room.
The third quarter was dominated by explosive plays and a neck-to-neck battle through the air.
Franklin and Riley connected again on a 44-yard touchdown pass to give Sylacauga a 24-20 lead.
Beauregard stayed resilient, leaning on Foreman’s physical running style. He carried the Hornets
down the field, eventually scoring his third touchdown of the night to tie the game at 27. The
back-and-forth nature of the matchup highlighted both teams’ big-play capabilities and kept the
crowd engaged.
Sylacauga regained a narrow lead when Franklin found wideout Lionel Cheneau for a 63-yard
touchdown pass. The missed PAT left the Aggies up 30-27 heading into the fourth quarter, setting
the stage for Beauregard’s decisive drive.
In the final minutes of the game, Beauregard leaned heavily on the game-winning touchdown of
wide receiver Jordan Jackson. The junior carried the ball on a key 1st and 10 drive, dodging
Aggie’s defense left and right, making his way into the end zone to secure the game lead. The
extra point was good, giving Beauregard a 34-30 lead with just over five minutes remaining.
Sylacauga had one last chance to reclaim the lead, but fell short against the Hornets’ defense. On
4th and 5, Sylacauga was unable to convert, effectively ending the game and giving Beauregard
its first win of the season.
The game was defined by its back-and-forth swing of competitive drive. Beauregard’s ability to
respond to big plays by Franklin kept them competitive, while Sylacauga’s explosive passing
game created opportunities throughout the 60 minutes. Special teams also played a role,
particularly Beauregard’s early kickoff return touchdown that energized the home crowd and set
the tone for the tough matchup.
With the win, Beauregard improved to 1-3 overall and 1-1 in region play, while Sylacauga fell to
2-2 overall and 0-2 in the region. The Hornets will aim to build on this win in their next region
game, against Elmore County on Friday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. on Panthers territory.
