By Wil Crews
sportscrews@opelikaobserver.com
Last Thursday night, on Homecoming and facing a Reeltown team that had lost two of its last three games, the Beulah Bobcats faced the Rebels with the aching but achievable goal of getting their first win of the season.
The game was moved up to Thursday due to the impending threat of Hurricane Delta on the weekend, but The Bobcats and head coach Matthew Johnson planned on bringing their own kind of storm. However, ultimately, the Bobcats were flushed away as they fell to the Rebels 47-13.
To an unknowing onlooker, the contest appeared even on the stat sheet. The Bobcats racked up 330 yards to Reeltown’s 353. However, it was the Rebels’ dominant rushing attack that acted as the steady hand guiding them to victory. Reeltown junior running back Dakarian “Juicy” Hughley had a stellar night, leading the Rebels with 100 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries.
The Bobcats fell behind after a 26-point first quarter from the rebels that included an opening-score punt return touchdown, a scoop-and-score and two rushing touchdowns.
Beulah responded quickly with a seven-play, 68-yard drive after allowing the opening score. Quarterback Kaleb Abney got the Bobcats on the scoreboard with a 24-yard touchdown run to tie the game up at 6-6 (both teams’ extra point attempts failed). Abney finished with 71 yards on the ground, 68 yards passing and added five tackles on defense.
The undeniable, storm-like drive may have bolstered the Bobcats’ confidence, but it didn’t undermine the Rebels. Reeltown quarterback Gabe Bryant led another Rebel scoring drive just before the end of the half. A 15-yard touchdown pass gave the Rebels a 33-6 halftime lead.
For Beulah, the only other score of the game from sophomore running back Jacori Tarver. Late in the fourth quarter, Tarver broke off a highlight reel 71-yard touchdown run. He finished with 16 carries for 115 yards and one half of Beulah’s scores on the night.
Sophomore Caleb Burton led the Bobcats on defense with eight tackles; senior Owen Kelley contributed six; and junior Stanley Washington followed him with five.
The loss moves Beulah to 0-7 (0-5 in the region) and they will continue to look for their first win next week at home against the also winless Goshen Eagles (0-7) of Goshen, Alabama. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST at 4848 Lee Road 270, Valley, Alabama 36854.