As Alabama Christian and BTW met Friday night, neither team wanted to drop to 0-2 in the Region. Both teams lost their Region opener last week and a second defeat would dampen any hope of hosting a playoff game in November. ACA dominated every aspect of the game in the 35-12 road victory. The Eagles out gained BTW 479 yards to 219 and possessed the ball for thirty-five of the game’s forty-eight minutes while the defense limited big plays for the Golden Eagle offense.
The home team received the opening kickoff and punted after three plays as open receivers were missed by the BTW quarterback on two of the three downs. The offense scored on the first drive as they overcame back to back penalties that forced a 1st and 28 from their own 25 yard line. Hayes Hunt hit Thomas Stovall on a middle screen for 17 yards and Otasowie Dion picked up the next 11 on a sweep around left end to pick up the first down and put the drive back on track. Hunt was 5 for 5 on the drive and Corey Landers finished the march with a 14 yard run for the first of many trips to the end zone. BTW produced a second consecutive three and out and the offense was back on the field. On the second drive, the offense continued to work the quick outside passing game and moved their way down the field. The first quarter ended with Alabama Christian ahead 7-0 and on the move for a second score.
Corey Landers heads around left end for his first score of the night.
A few plays into the period, the offense benefited from a pass interference call against BTW on third and goal which allowed Corey Landers to line up in the Wildcat formation and follow Jack Thomas into the end zone from three yards out to increase the lead to 14-0. The drive lasted 12 plays and covered 70 yards while eating up 4:55 of the first half clock. BTW picked up their first first down of the night on the next possession, but gave the ball up on downs with 7:39 left in the half. ACA masterfully worked their way down the field as they converted two third downs and a fourth down to try to score before the half. The offense made it as far as the three yard line of BTW, but could could go no further and missed a 20-yard field goal on the last play of the half to remain ahead 14-0. The Eagles did everything right except put points on the board in the time consuming drive.
Hayes Hunt surveys the defense for an open receiver.
Alabama Christian received the second half kickoff and scored in eight plays to stretch the lead to 21-0. Corey Landers delivered a 17-yard run around left end on the march and Otasowie Dion finished it with a 23-yard gallop for the touchdown. Dion started right on the play, cut up the middle and spun out of a tackle to race to pay dirt. BTW put together their first good march of the game as they cut the lead to 21-6 with 4:55 left in the third period. ACA responded quickly as Landers broke off a 55-yard run on the first play of the drive and finished it one play later from the Wildcat for his third score of the night. BTW turned the ball over on downs to end the third with ACA ahead 28-6.
Thomas Stovall carries defenders to the goal line.
The next Eagle drive belonged to the work horse, Corey Landers. The junior back carried the ball on nine of the twelve plays on the last scoring drive of the night and finished with his fourth score of the contest. Landers would finish the night with 29 carries for 216 yards and four touchdowns. The home team scored with 4:11 left in the game to cut the lead to 35-12, but ACA ran the clock out and never gave the home team another shot on offense.
Donovan Emerson and friends track down the BTW runner.
Hayes Hunt finished the night with 19 completions on 24 attempts for 181 yards and Otasowie Dion had 48 yards on five carries and a score. Preston Hicks led the receivers with 8 receptions for 80 yards while three receivers, Garrett Weathers, Thomas Stovall and Trey Schlemmer each had three catches. On defense Jack Thomas led the squad with five tackles while Schlemmer and Hicks both recorded four tackles. Avery Stuart and Lane Smith each had three tackles.