Alabama Christian looked to even its Region record to 1-1 on Friday as they played Sumter Central for the first time in program history. The visiting Jaguars had lost 26 games in a row and ACA hoped to continue the streak. Columbia, a 6A school from Huntsville, holds the current longest losing streak in the state at 66 games in a row. The Eagles scored early and often in the 62-14 win.
William Milner recovers the opening kickoff for the Eagles.
The Eagles won the coin toss and deferred until the second half, but wound up with the ball anyway as Sumter Central could not handle the squib kick. This was the first of three times ACA recovered a mishandled kickoff in the game. In a break from the norm, the offense threw five plays in a row, all completions, to start the game and opened the scoring with a 20-yard pass from Hayes Hunt to Otasowie Dion for a 7-0 lead. Hunt would connect on his first ten passes of the evening. After a three and out from the Jaguars, the offense drove sixty-nine yards in four plays capped by an eight-yard scramble from Hunt to stretch the lead to 14-0. Preston Hicks forced a fumble which was recovered by AC Walters to end Sumter’s second drive. Four plays later, Hunt rolled out to the left and hit a wide-open Dion who coasted to the end zone on a 23-yard pass play for a 21-0 lead. The first quarter ended with the visitors preparing to punt to the Eagles, trailing by twenty-one points.
Hunt and Dion have the left side of the field to themselves as they connect for a score.
David Ortiz-Ramirez opened the scoring in the second with a 40-yard dash to paydirt and a 28-0 cushion. Blake Shaw tackled the punter after he couldn’t catch the snap to give Alabama Christian the ball on the Jaguar 35-yard line with 8:50 remaining in the half. Corey Landers moved the ball to the five-yard line with one carry and Otasowie Dion scored on the next play for his third touchdown of the night and a 35-0 lead. Sumter Central put together a scoring drive aided by two big plays to get on the scoreboard. On 2nd and 16, the Jags completed a 40-yard pass to the ACA 39-yard line and ran 35 more yards on the next play to the four-yard line. Sumter finally scored on fourth and goal to make the score 35-6. The Eagles responded with a two-play drive that covered sixty yards to move the score to 42-6. The scoring play was a 37-yard bomb from Hayes Hunt to Avery Stuart. After recovering a botched kick return, ACA scored again as Hayes found Preston Hicks in traffic in the end zone on an eight-yard play for a 49-6 advantage. Neither team scored on its final possession of the half and Alabama Christian left the field with a commanding lead.
David Ortiz-Ramirez outraces the defense to the end zone.
A running clock was called for in the second half and after the starters scored on the first drive, the backups were able to play the rest of the way. Hayes Hunt tied the school record with his fifth scoring pass of the night as he hit David Ortiz-Ramirez for a three-yard touchdown and a 56-6 lead. After recovering yet another kickoff, the second team was able to drive for a score. Although the drive was dominated by Jordan Frazier’s running, Kaiden Grenn completed his first varsity pass to Mac Moorer, with his first varsity reception, on the drive. Frazier carried three times for 20 yards and his touchdown run extended the lead to 62-6. Sumter Central closed out the scoring with an 18-yard pass to cut the score to 62-14 in the fourth period.
Corey Landers moves the ball close to the goal line for the Eagles.
Hayes Hunt completed 11 of 14 passes on the night for 133 yards and five touchdowns and also ran two times for 35 yards and a score. Otasowie Dion led all receivers with five catches for 55 yards and two touchdowns. Avery Stuart caught two for 44 yards and a score while Preston Hicks had two for 21 yards and a touchdown. Corey Landers led all rushers with 137 yards on eight carries while Jordan Frazier finished with 72 yards on 10 attempts and a touchdown. Both Otasowie Dion and David Ortiz-Ramirez rushed for over 60 yards and scored a TD in the game. With Sumter Central only running 29 offensive plays on the night, the defensive chances were not as numerous as past games. Blake Shaw, Gerrod Green and AC Walters led the team with four tackles apiece. Preston Hicks, Brady Smith and Avery Stuart each had three tackles.
Brady Smith and Avery Stuart combine for the stop.
Alabama Christian hosts MA next Friday, September 23rd, in its next contest.