by Rick Lanier
for the Observer
Beauregard snapped a five game losing streak Friday night, soundly defeating Elmore County, 41-14, on senior night
The win put a feather in the cap of Homecoming 2021, and improved Beauregard to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in regional play for the season.
The Hornets wasted little time taking care of business as defensive back Kayan Malloy took the opening kickoff and raced 85 yards for the touchdown to make it 7-0 just 12 seconds into the game. Malloy was not done however — he made an impact on both sides of the ball, finishing with two more rushing touchdowns and two interceptions for the game.
Following the opening touchdown, Beauregard’s good play was not limited to just Malloy. The Hornet offense, in total, found its gear as quarterback Trent Moulton, behind the outstanding play of the offensive line, marched the Hornets up and down the field seemingly at will. Moulton would add a pair of rushing touchdowns on the night and running back Z. J. Grady would add another as the Hornet offense rolled past the Panthers.
Defensively, the young Hornet front stuffed the running lanes allowing the linebacker corps to roam free and make tackle after tackle, while overall, improving in the areas of containing a big, mobile quarterback, applying pressure on the pass game and getting off the field on third down. Beauregard’s strong defensive efforts limited the Panther’s offense and put the ball back in the hands of the Hornet offense for most of the night.
By no means was it a perfect night. There were failed conversions, untimely penalties and stalled drives — there are still areas to improve in, but by far, it was the best the Hornets have played all season.
Head coach Justin Jones and his staff are optimistic about the state of Beauregard football going forward and they should be.
“We challenged Kayan Malloy to play his best tonight and as you saw, he responded,” Jones said post-game. “We were able to run the ball very well tonight, it was a good effort overall, one we need to take with us to Tuscaloosa next Friday.”
The Hornets close out the season on the road as they travel to Holt High School in Tuscaloosa this Friday, Oct. 22, to take on the Ironmen (2-6 overall and 2-4 in regional play). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST. Holt High School is located at 3801 Alabama Ave. NE, in Holt, Alabama.