Hornets Start Fast,
Fall to Russell County 42-14
By Rick Lanier
For the Observer
Beauregard played toe-to-toe with a much improved 6A Russell County team, but after a promising start, the Warriors were able to take control of the game and defeat the Hornets, 42-14, in a non-regional contest at Richard L. Brown Field Friday night. With the loss, the Hornets fall to 2-4 (1-2) in head coach Jason Jones’ first year with the program.
Things started well for Beauregard; just 15 seconds removed from the opening kickoff, the Hornets led 7-0 compliments of an 85-yard return by junior defensive back Kyan Maloy. On the ensuing kickoff, Russell County put together an effective drive of its own and positioned the ball deep into Hornet territory. The Hornet defense held, however, forcing a Warrior field goal attempt which sailed wide right — no good.
Following a Beauregard punt on its next series, the Hornet defensive backfield missed a coverage assignment, leaving a Warrior receiver wide open for an easy pitch-and-catch Warrior touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.
In response, sophomore Beauregard quarterback Trent Moulton skillfully marched the Hornets down the field to begin the second quarter. Deep in the Warrior red-zone, Moulton called his own number, scampering 12 yards on a quarterback keeper for a touchdown to put the Hornets back on top, 14-7.
In what proved to be a back and forth first half, the Warriors took the next Hornet kickoff and drove the length of the field and scored to tie the game at 14-14. Beauregard’s next drive stalled after a bad snap resulted in a 17-yard loss to force a Hornet punt attempt which was blocked, scooped up by the Warriors and returned for a touchdown to give Russell County its first lead of the night, 21-14.
Unfortunately for the blue and yellow, there would be no further back-and-forth in scoring. The Hornets would have more chances on offense, but mistakes and penalties stymied those drives, turning the ball back over to the Warriors who went on to score on each of their next three possessions — effectively putting the game out of reach by the end of the third quarter.
As with their previous games, the Hornets displayed flashes of a really good football team; the level of play they are capable of achieving has just not been prolonged. Right now, there are simply too many mistakes — growing pains if you will — to produce the consistency necessary to sustain the standard of play that Jones and his staff are searching for. Rest assured, they will keep striving towards that goal.
Beauregard will travel to Sylacauga High School on Friday, Oct. 8, to take on the Aggies (3-3/1-1) at 7 p.m. CST. Sylacauga High School is located at 701 N. Broadway Ave., Sylacauga, Alabama.