Alabama Christian’s season ended in the first round of the playoffs after losing to Houston Academy, 49-18. The Raiders handled everything ACA had planned and took control of the game from the outset. It’s easy to focus on the negative after a loss, but the Eagles can hold their heads high at the results of the season. The program made the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year led by Coach Michael Summers. Summers’ twenty-one victories over the past three seasons is more than any other coach’s first three years in program history. Individually, William Milner became the eighth player in history with at least 200 career tackles and David Ortiz-Ramirez and AC Walters both rank in the Top 15 in career rushing yards. Tyson Summers added to his school record of career extra points and now ranks 15th in career points in program history.
The first two series of the night set the tone for the contest and gave a preview of how the night would progress. ACA got the ball first and gained just three yards in three plays and was forced to punt. An awful punt gave the Raiders the ball at ACA’s 38-yard line. Houston Academy scored in just two plays on a 28-yard run up the middle for the early lead. The second set of series produced the same results as Alabama Christian punted after three plays and Houston Academy scored again on a 6-play, 52-yard drive for a 14-0 first period lead. A fake punt by AC Walters brought about the team’s first first down at the end of the opening period. The quarter ended with the home team driving towards its third score of the night.
Three plays into the second, Houston Academy made it 21-0 as the hopes of the Eagles started to slip away. A pick six on the next possession cemented the outcome as the Raiders led 28-0 with 7:48 left in the half. The next Eagle drive finally brought the first points of the game for the visitors. AC Walters was featured prominently in the drive as he carried five times for 45 yards. Facing a 3rd and 8 from the Raider 31-yard line, ACA crossed up the defense with a misdirection handoff to William Milner. The senior raced around the left side and reached the end zone to cut the score to 6-28 (the extra point was blocked). With a little momentum could the defense stop the opponent late in the first half? The unit has struggled in the area all year and Friday night was no exception. After a great kick return and a penalty against Alabama Christian, Houston Academy scored on the next play to make the score 35-6 with 2:25 left in the second. ACA picked up a couple of first downs on the last drive of the half, but the quarter ended at midfield.
The Raiders opened the second half on offense and immediately added to their lead with a 28-yard scoring pass for a 42-6 advantage. To the team’s credit, ACA continued to fight despite the lopsided score. Christian Snipes connected with David Ortiz-Ramirez on a 58-yard bomb to the Raider’s 1-yard line to start the next possession. It was the first time this season, at least to this writer’s memory, the offense took a deep shot like that. Snipes scored on the next play for the team’s second score of the night. After a failed two-point attempt the score was 12-42 with 7:20 left in the third period. Houston Academy slowed the pace on the last drive for their starters. The drive took over six minutes and the Raiders extended the lead to 49-12.
For the first time all night, ACA’s defense stopped the Raiders and forced a punt to start the fourth period. On the second play of the Eagles drive, AC Walters ran through the defense and then outraced them for an 85-yard run to cut the score to 18-49. Both teams had one more drive to finish the game with no points scored. On ACA’s last drive, William Milner was featured in the running game as the staff wanted to let the senior warrior play as many snaps as he could as his ACA career came to a close.
The top six tacklers on the night were all seniors as they left it all on the field. Jaylan McCovery and William Milner, who shared a touching moment at the end of the game, led the team in tackles with ten and nine, respectively. Spencer Meeks finished with five tackles while Ari Bowman, Lane Smith, and Jalen Flowers each had four tackles.
AC Walters finished the night with 167 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown. William Milner had 78 yards on 6 attempts while Christian Snipes had 67 yards on 19 rushes. Both backs scored a touchdown. Snipes threw for 86 yards with David Ortiz-Ramirez leading the receivers with two ended at midfield.
ACA will find out which Region they will play in next year after reclassification in December. Hopefully the AHSAA can figure where the Eagles should be without having to appeal the ruling.