Records are made to be broken and that’s just what the ACA football team did Friday night with a 32-14 win over Bullock County. The victory was the eighth in a row for the Eagles and surpasses the seven game winning streak set by the 2017 team for most consecutive games won in program history. This year’s squad also finished undefeated in Region play for the first time since the Region format expanded in 2000.
Individually, two players added their name to the record book Friday night. Senior Miller McCarthy broke the record for most solo tackles in a career with four against the Hornets and now has 139 to his credit and is only 17 total tackles (solo and assisted) away from holding that mark as well. Coach Nate Sanford said this about McCarthy, “Miller has been one of the most steady performers I have ever coached on the defensive side.” The linebacker led the Eagles again Friday night with nine tackles against the Hornets.
On the offensive side of the ball, Jalen Clark’s rushing touchdown early in the second quarter was his 20th of the year and set a new season record for the program. With the score, the senior also tied Reese Solar for the career mark for rushing touchdowns (36) and total touchdowns (40). Coach Sanford said, “Jalen has played on an incredibly high level all year and hasn’t played his best ball yet.” Sanford also added “Both Jalen and Miller are quintessential captains.”
The contest against Bullock County was a hard fought battle. After the game, Coach Sanford commented, “This was a very tough, very physical game tonight. Bullock County came to play, but our guys rose to the challenge with some key stops in the red zone, especially to close the first half.” Some spectators thought the Hornets might have resorted to psychological warfare as the lights shone directly into the eyes of the fans and the announcer repeated “Hornet fans, make some noise” over and over again.
ACA opened the game with a time consuming 13 play drive that lasted 9:11, but came away with no points. The Eagles were set up first and goal at the 10 yard line, but a delay of game penalty and two holding calls turned a promising opening drive into a third and goal from the 41 yard line. The offense turned the ball over on downs two plays later. The defense did its job when it hit the field as Bullock County punted after three snaps. The key play for the defense was a tackle for loss on 2nd down by Khalil Jackson and Will Wright. The Eagles were on the move as the first quarter ended with the score tied 0-0.
The defense gangs up on the Hornet runner.
The Eagles kept the ball on the ground on their drive, that started in the first quarter and ended on the second play of the second quarter, as Jalen Clark ran 27 yards on a keeper up the middle to give ACA the lead with 11:11 remaining in the half. The Hornets jumped offsides on the extra point attempt which led Alabama Christian to go for two. Clark easily scored on the play and the Eagles led 8-0. Once again, the defense got the ball back to the offense after a three and out for Bullock County. Trey Schlemmer began the series with a tackle for loss as he forced the Hornet back out of bounds around the right end. ACA’s second score of the night was set up by the longest pass play of the contest as Jalen Clark hit Hayes Hunt on a 53 yard catch and run to the Hornet 25 yard line. The drive ended with Clark hitting Corey Landers on a middle screen that covered 11 yards and gave the Eagles a 15-0 advantage with 5:44 left in the quarter. Bullock County put together an impressive drive to end the first half as they drove the length of the field, but were kept out of the end zone by the ACA defense. The Hornets got as close as the Eagle three yard line, but Khalil Jackson and Will Wright teamed up again for a tackle behind the line of scrimmage that moved Bullock County back to the seven. With time running out, the Hornets attempted a field goal on fourth down and missed badly to keep the score at 15-0 heading into halftime.
Hayes Hunt off and running on a 53 yard pass play.
The third quarter began with another long possession for the Bullock County offense that produced no points. The Hornets held the ball for 17 plays and took 9:41 off the clock before giving the ball back to ACA. As Bullock County was inside the Eagle ten yard line, the ACA defense was up to the challenge and turned the Hornets away. On second and goal from the eight, D’Andre Sneed broke up a pass at the goal line and on third down Khalil Jackson, who lived in the Hornet backfield, dropped the Bullock County back for an eleven yard loss which set up a fourth and goal from the 19 yard line. An incomplete pass on fourth down gave the ball to ACA for the first time in the second half with 2:19 left in the third quarter. The Eagles scored on the last play of the quarter as Otasowie Dion followed his blockers around right end and raced 62 yards for the touchdown. After the extra point attempt was blocked, ACA led 21-0 heading to the fourth quarter.
Khalil Jackson with one of his four tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Bullock County opened the quarter with a one play drive on a 78 yard bomb to a wide open receiver down the middle of the field to cut the score to 21-6. Alabama Christian responded quickly and scored in just three plays to expand the lead to 29-6. Corey Landers ran the ball on the first two plays of the drive and gained 41 yards down to the Hornet 25 yard line. Jalen Clark hit Garrett Weathers up the left sideline on a beautiful throw that covered the final 25 yards of the drive. For the second time in the game, Bullock County jumped offsides on the PAT which prompted the Eagles to successfully go for two. Like their previous possession, the Hornets scored quickly as they hooked up for a 55 yard pass play on the second play of the drive to make the score 29-14 with 9:24 left in the game. The Eagle offense kept the ball on the ground to keep the ball away from the Hornets and moved the ball to their opponent’s 20 yard line before Aaron Treubig connected on a 37 yard field goal with 4:53 left to give ACA a three score advantage at 32-14. Feeling good about their passing game, Bullock County continued to throw the ball, but Sanders Manning ended the drive with an interception at midfield with 4:15 remaining in the game. The offense could not pick up a first down to run out the clock and gave Bullock County one last chance with the ball. The game ended with the Hornets trying to pick up another score. Trey Schlemmer left his calling card as he laid out a Hornet receiver on the last play of the game to seal the victory.
Jalen Clark getting ready to pass to Garrett Weathers for a score.
Otasowie Dion led the Eagle rushing attack with 95 yards on four carries and a score. Corey Landers gained 77 yards on 14 attempts and added one reception for 11 yards and a touchdown. Jalen Clark ran for 68 yards on 10 rushes with a touchdown and threw for 155 yards on 10 of 13 passing and two scores. Hayes Hunt led the receivers with three catches for 72 yards. Preston Hicks had two catches for 23 yards and Trey Schlemmer added two receptions for 19 yards. Garrett Weathers lone catch of the night was a 25 yard reception for a score.
Otasowie Dion outruns the Hornet defense for a touchdown.
After McCarthy’s nine tackles, Jack Thomas had five tackles as did Khalil Jackson who had five tackles and a sack. Corey Landers and Trey Schlemmer each had four tackles on the night and Sanders Manning added two tackles and an interception.
The Eagles (8-1, 7-0) end the regular season next Thursday night as they host MA on Pink Out Night.