The home team had won the three previous meetings of this series and the Eagles continued that trend with a convincing 49-20 defeat of Dale County Friday night. The offense scored touchdowns on all seven possessions racking up 470 yards of total offense. Coach Nate Sanford commented that not having to punt all night was a great confidence builder for his young team and although the defense had trouble getting off the field at times he was encouraged that no cheap plays were given up by the Eagles.
ACA received the opening kick and proceeded to march 80 yards in eight plays while eating up 4:27 of the first quarter clock. The drive was capped off with the first of three Jalen Clark touchdown runs and Cobi Keel added the first of his seven extra points on the night, which ties for the second most in one game in school history. After a K J Kendrick interception killed Dale County’s first drive, the Eagles scored again driving the ball 73 yards in 12 plays covering 5:57. A key fourth down conversion as time expired in the first quarter kept the momentum with the Eagles. Demari Moore finished the drive with a nine yard touchdown run and the lead extended to 14-0.
Dale County scored on their second possession of the night and cut the Eagle lead in half. A bobbled attempt on the kick return had ACA backed up on its own three yard line and it looked as if Dale County had caught a break. The offense responded and covered 97 yards in only six plays with the score coming on a 59 yard pass from Jalen Clark to Demari Moore with just 1:54 left in the first half. Moore would finish the night with 72 yards receiving and 16 yards rushing with two touchdowns. Dale County responded in a big way as they returned the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown to cut the lead to 21-14. The Eagles regular kick cover team was not on the field and the Warriors took advantage. Luckily, the offense bailed them out scoring in just 1:23 to close out the first half. Jalen Clark’s eight yard scoring run came with just 7.9 seconds left in the half. Alabama Christian would leave the field up 28-14 at the intermission.
Dale County started the second half with a three and out and punted the ball back to ACA. It only took the Eagles one play to score as Jalen Clark raced 53 yards down the sideline for the score. Clark would finish the night with 201 yards rushing on 13 carries and three touchdowns. Dale County held the ball for 16 plays and used 7:38 of the clock, but only drove 48 yards in that time and eventually gave up the ball on downs. The Eagles again scored quickly and took a commanding 42-14 lead late in the third quarter as Jalen Clark hit Preston Hicks for a 27 yard touchdown. Clark passed for 169 yards on the night on nine of twelve passing and Hicks was the team’s leading receiver with four receptions for 54 yards and a score. Dale County again held the ball for a long period of time, as they ran 14 plays and were able to finish this drive with a score. ACA’s last score of the night came on a 30 yard Corey Landers run and stretched the lead to 49-20. Landers tallied 84 yards on 10 rushes for the game. The Warriors failed to score on their last drive and the victory belonged to the Eagles.
The defense was on the field for many plays and a few players had big nights. Jackson Thomas led the defense with 15 total tackles. Miller McCarthy added 11 tackles while playing through injury and Bryan Farrington had 10 tackles and a sack.
The Eagles (2-3, 1-2 in the area) are idle next week and will travel to Headland in two weeks for an important area contest.