For the second straight week ACA played an opponent it had never faced before as they hosted Jacksonville in the second round of the playoffs. The Golden Eagles entered the game with a 7-3 record, but with two of the losses due to forfeits from COVID Jacksonville played better than their record indicated. The Golden Eagles proved to be a very tough foe and took a 21-14 lead with 6:33 left in the first half. Alabama Christian’s defense made key adjustments and over the final two and a half quarters Jacksonville had the ball seven times and was held to two first downs and 28 yards of total offense. The offense put up 17 points over that same span and the Eagles advanced to the quarterfinals, for just the third time in program history, with a 31-21 victory. The win was the 10th of the year, which ties the 2017 team for most in a season.
ACA took the ball first and held the ball for eight plays, but only moved the ball nine yards before they punted to Jacksonville. The Golden Eagle offense struck quickly as they scored on a 65 yard run around the right end on their first play from scrimmage to take an early 7-0 lead. Alabama Christian responded on the next drive with an eight play 67 yard drive to tie the score 7-7 with 5:45 remaining in the first quarter. Jalen Clark provided two key plays on the possession as he found Preston Hicks for a 22 yard gain with a defender draped on his back as he threw the ball and an 18 yard yard scoring run up the middle to even the score. If the Eagles were feeling good about themselves that quickly disappeared as Jacksonville returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown to retake the lead 14-7. The Golden Eagles had touched the ball twice so far in the contest and scored untouched on both plays. As ACA punted the ball back to Jacksonville on the next possession there was an uneasy feeling in the air. However, for the first time during the game, the defense stopped the Golden Eagle attack and forced a punt from Jacksonville. Sanders Manning’s third down sack was key in getting the ball back to the offense. At the end of one, Jacksonville led 14-7.
Jalen Clark scores from 18 yards out on the first touchdown of the night.
Alabama Christian started the second quarter with a bang as Jalen Clark hooked up with Preston Hicks on a 65 yard pass play down to the Jacksonville 11 yard line. Three plays later, Hayes Hunt caught a 4 yard dart from Clark to even the score 14-14 early in the second quarter. On the next drive, the Golden Eagles put up their last points of the night as they scored a touchdown with 6:33 left in the half for a 21-14 advantage. When ACA had to punt the ball back to Jacksonville after taking just 1:22 off the clock before halftime, that uneasy feeling crept back, but the defense again answered the call. Sanders Manning started the drive with another tackle for loss and the Jacksonville offense never recovered and gave the ball back to ACA with 3:39 remaining until halftime. The Eagle offense put together a 15 play drive that ate up all but the last 6.5 seconds of the quarter to tie the game 21-21. ACA overcame a touchdown that was called back and converted two third downs and a fourth down on the drive as the clock wound down in the half. The one yard scoring run from Jalen Clark was set up by the fourth down conversion the play before as the senior QB found Hayes Hunt for a 16 yard gain that stopped the clock with less than 10 seconds in the quarter. Even though the teams were tied heading to the locker room, you could feel the momentum swinging to the home team.
Sanders Manning tackles the Jacksonville quarterback.
As the second half started the ACA defense completely smothered the Jacksonville offense. Donovan Emerson and Jack Thomas teamed up for a tackle for loss on second down of the Golden Eagles’ first drive and after an incomplete pass on third down, Jacksonville punted to Alabama Christian. After exchanging punts on the next two possessions, ACA committed the first turnover of the game with a fumble on a botched hook and ladder that the Golden Eagles returned to the ACA 24 yard line. Jacksonville’s drive consisted of a holding call and three incomplete passes as they were unable to take advantage of the ACA miscue and turned the ball over on downs. On the Eagles first play, Jalen Clark outraced the Jacksonville defense to the goal line for a 67 yard scoring romp that gave ACA its first lead of the game, 28-21. Otasowie Dion helped knock the Golden Eagle offense backwards with a tackle behind the line on the first play of the next drive and the Jacksonville offense remained ineffective in the second half. On the first play of Alabama Christian’s next drive, senior quarterback, Jalen Clark came up hobbling and headed to the sidelines. The Eagles ran the ball on the next two plays to end the third quarter with a 28-21 lead.
Trey Schlemmer and the defense stop the Golden Eagle runner.
Assuming ACA would remain conservative with a backup quarterback in the game and a lead, the Eagle offense zigged when Jacksonville thought they would zag and Hayes Hunt, who remained calm in the pocket with chaos all around him, hooked up with Garrett Weathers for a 42 yard bomb down to the Jacksonville seven yard line. The pass play allowed Aaron Treubig to connect on a 25 yard field goal with 9:48 left in the game that gave ACA a two score lead at 31-21. Jacksonville turned the ball over on downs on their last two drives of the game as they could see their season slipping away. The Eagles ran the last 3:59 off the clock to put the game away for the home team.
Otasowie Dion with one of his six tackles on the night.
Otasowie Dion led the defense in tackles with six on the night with Miller McCarthy adding five of his own. Sanders Manning and Trey Schlemmer each recorded four tackles and a sack. Donovan Emerson added three tackles.
Preston Hicks cuts behind the defender on a 65 yard pass play.
Jalen Clark finished the night with 30 carries for 214 yards and three scores and completed 14 of 23 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. Hayes Hunt led the receivers with eight receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown. Preston Hicks had four catches for 98 yards and Garrett Weathers’ lone catch covered 42 yards. Corey Landers added 34 hard rushing yards on 11 carries.
Next week, ACA (10-2) will host American Christian in a State quarterfinal match up.