There is no better way to end Homecoming week than with a Friday night victory by the home team. The Eagles capped off a week of celebration with a 49-14 dismantling of Ashford for their fifth win in a row and maintained the top spot in the Region. With Jalen Clark sitting out Friday night, ACA would lean on its defense to help control the game. The defense responded by holding the Yellow Jacket attack to 170 yards of offense and just seven first downs. The offense, led by Hayes Hunt, did its part as well as the sophomore quarterback completed 13 of 14 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns. The lefty completed passes to five different receivers and helped the offense gain 402 yards on the night.
After the game, Coach Nate Sanford commented on Hunt’s night. “When you don’t have a player like Jalen Clark available to play, you expect a natural drop off in production or execution. We had neither with Hayes Hunt. Not only was he incredibly efficient, he took care of the ball, stepped up in the pocket and checked down to secondary receivers. His confidence set the tone for a good night on both sides of the ball for us.”
Hayes Hunt surveys the field for an open receiver.
Both teams punted on their first possession, but the Eagles got the scoring started the second time they touched the ball. Corey Landers handled the first 36 yards of the drive on four carries and Hayes Hunt covered the last ten on a play action pass with a scoring strike over the defensive back to Trey Schlemmer. The extra point attempt was botched, but Hunt was able to scoop the ball and go around right end for a two point conversion and an 8-0 lead. The offense went to work again after an Ashford punt for their second score of the night. Alabama Christian drove 56 yards in four plays covering just 2:22 of the first quarter clock. The possession ended as Hunt found Corey Landers on a middle screen that went for 22 yards and a 15-0 lead to close out the first quarter.
Trey Schlemmer catches a pass in the first quarter for a score.
The second quarter started with a turnover for the Ashford offense as TJ Silmon intercepted the Yellow Jacket QB and gave the ball back to an offense that had found its rhythm. On the third play of the drive, Hayes Hunt hit Demari Moore in the right flat and the junior receiver left two defenders behind and picked up 11 yards for a first down. On the next play, Hunt hit Trey Schlemmer for a 19 yard gain up the right sideline for a first and goal at the six yard line. After a false start moved the ball back to the eleven, Corey Landers scored his second touchdown of the night with a run around right end that extended the ACA lead to 22-0. The defense continued to pressure the Ashford quarterback as Jack Thomas and Kyle Jackson each forced quick throws on different plays to give the ball back to the offense with only 95 seconds left in the first half. The offense only needed 50 of those seconds as Hunt found Sanders Manning for 30 yards, Corey Landers for 21 and finished the short drive with a 20 yard completion to Garrett Weathers to score with just 44.5 seconds left in the second quarter. The Eagles enjoyed a comfortable 28-0 lead as they headed to halftime.
Sanders Manning tackles the Ashford quarterback.
If Ashford had put the first half out of their minds during halftime, the Eagle defense brought them back to reality as Donovan Emerson had a sack on the Yellow Jackets first play of the second half and forced a punt after just three plays. The offense picked up right where it left off as Hayes Hunt completed passes on three consecutive plays to Trey Schlemmer (16 yards), Demari Moore (11 yards) and Sanders Manning (11 yards) for first downs that moved the ball to the Yellow Jacket 27 yard line. Corey Landers capped off the drive with his third touchdown of the night on a six yard run that increased the lead to 35-0. Landers had a terrific all around night and finished the contest with 86 yards rushing on ten carries and caught four passes for 64 yards. The next Ashford possession did not go very far, but it did eat up the last six minutes of the third quarter and was aided by a phantom pass interference call against the Eagles. The Yellow Jackets eventually punted the ball back to ACA on the first play of the fourth quarter as the drive stalled.
Corey Landers cuts past the defense for his third touchdown of the game.
Otasowie Dion started the quarter with a bang on the first play of the possession as he bolted through the line of scrimmage and outraced the defense to the end zone for an 85 yard touchdown run. With the score 42-0, the Eagle coaching staff was able to substitute freely and let many players gain valuable experience. Ashford finally cracked the scoring column with a late touchdown to make the score 42-8 with 1:37 remaining in the game. Ashford decided to forgo the onside kick and kicked it deep to Demari Moore who promptly returned the kick 83 yards for a score, his second of the season. Ashford returned the favor on the ensuing kick as the Yellow Jacket returner reversed fields and went 75 yards for the score. With three touchdowns scored over a 34 second and the score 49-14, Demari Moore took a knee as he received the next kick to allow the offense to set up in Victory formation, an offensive coordinator’s favorite call.
Demari Moore scores on a kick return late in the game.
The defense was spearheaded by the linebacking duo of Miller McCarthy and Jack Thomas. The two defensive leaders have a nose for the ball and both just keep making tackles. Against Ashford, McCarthy finished with ten tackles with Thomas right behind with nine of his own. Donovan Emerson played one of his best games of the season with seven tackles and a sack while Trey Schlemmer and Grant Sutton each had five tackles in the game. On offense, Otasowie Dion finished with 93 yards on two carries and a touchdown. Trey Schlemmer, Corey Landers and Garrett Weathers each caught touchdown passes in the contest. Schlemmer finished with three receptions for 45 yards and Weathers had one catch for 20 yards. Sanders Manning caught three passes for 50 yards and Demari Moore caught two for 22 yards.
Miller McCarthy and Jack Thomas enjoy a moment on the sidelines with a big lead in the fourth quarter.
Next week, Alabama Christian (5-1, 4-0) continues Region play with a visit to Geneva. This will be the first meeting of the two schools on the gridiron.