Historically, the ACA/MA series has been dominated by the Vaughn Road Eagles, but this Alabama Christian coaching staff and team looked to make their own history as they beat MA for the third consecutive year, for the first time in program history, with a 28-20 victory. Two of the three wins in the streak have been at MA, including spoiling Homecoming activities on Friday night. The defense recorded a season high three sacks and held the MA rushing attack to 83 yards, allowing just 30 in the second half.
It took a little while for the offenses to click as neither team scored in the first period. MA took the opening kickoff and drove to the ACA 23-yard line, but were turned away by William Milner and Jalen Flowers on a fourth down run to turn the ball over on downs. Alabama Christian picked up one first down its first time out, but punted it back to MA as the drive stalled. The first quarter ended with MA being turned over on downs again on a failed fourth down attempt. TJ Merritt provided good coverage to prevent the conversion for MA.
ACA began the second quarter with a turnover on a mishandled exchange between quarterback and running back to give MA the ball at their own 45-yard line. AC Walters broke up a long pass at the goal line and a bad snap on the next down forced a punt from the home team. Walters was shaken up on the pass play which meant David Ortiz-Ramirez would be the featured back in the series. The lightning fast junior bolted 77 yards past the defense on the second play of the drive to give ACA a 7-0 lead with 6:22 left in the half. A fired up defense sacked the MA quarterback on back to back snaps on second and third down to force another punt. Darrius Gardner and Blake Shaw recorded the sacks on the drive. A 24-yard punt return by AC Walters started the next drive at the MA 36-yard line. Alabama Christian ran the ball on five consecutive plays and took a 14-0 lead with 1:15 left in the second. Ortiz-Ramirez finished the drive with a 15-yard run for his second score of the game. With just 75 seconds left in the half, the only thing the defense did not want to do was give up a cheap score. Much to the dismay of the ACA nation, MA scored on a 39-yard wide receiver screen on the last play of the half to cut the lead to 14-7. The receiver caught the short pass and was surrounded by ACA defenders and then all of a sudden like a magic trick, he wasn’t. The defense, the crowd, no one could believe what they just saw.
The disastrous end to the first half did nothing to alter the focus of the ACA squad. For the first time all night, the offense mixed the pass game into the play calling and seemed to take MA by surprise. Christian Snipes completed all four of his passes on the possession that finished with a 15-yard connection on a slant to Bryant Swindle for a 21-7 lead. The visiting Eagles were not done though as a squib kick was recovered by Jaylan McCovery to hand the ball right back to the offense. Snipes called his own number five of the six plays in the drive that ended with a three yard run for the quarterback’s first touchdown of the year. With 4:29 left in the third quarter, the MA offense finally made it back on the field, trailing 28-7. MA converted a fourth down on their next possession and cut the margin to 28-14 with less than a minute left in the third period.
ACA turned to its ground game in the final stanza. The offense drove to the MA 14-yard line, but missed a chance to extend the lead. The home team scored on their next drive, but Alabama Christian made them eat a lot of time up in the process. The scoring drive lasted twelve plays and covered 80 yards, but took over six minutes off the clock. MA scored with 2:27 left in the game to cut the score to 28-20. Without AC Walters, who was again shaken up on the previous drive, the offense was challenged to make sure MA did not get the ball back. After already running for a first down earlier in the drive, Christian Snipes converted a 4th and 3 to seal the win with 59 seconds left.
William Milner once again led the defense with eleven tackles. Jackson Burton finished with eight tackles followed by Lane Smith with seven. both Darrius Gardner and Blake Shaw recorded sacks in the game. David Ortiz-Ramirez had 120 yards on just eight carries with a touchdown and added one reception for four yards. Christian Snipes had 100 yards on 15 attempts on the ground and 39 yards on four completions through the air. The sophomore signal caller had one rushing and one passing touchdown. Bryant Swindle led the receivers with two receptions for 23 yards and a score.
Next week, ACA returns home and back to Area play with a rivalry game against St James.