Eagles Drop Final Regular Season Game

Win or lose, the final regular season game of the year was a tall task for the Eagles of ACA, especially heading into the playoffs. Long-time rival MA entered the game undefeated and ranked sixth in the ASWA 3A state poll. For only the second time this year, ACA suffered a loss as they fell to MA by a score of 31-7. The Eagles two losses this season came on Thursday nights while they won all eight contests played on Friday nights.

After both teams traded punts on their first possessions, MA drove 84 yards on seven plays and took a 7-0 lead with 7:06 remaining in the first quarter. ACA responded with its best drive of the game as the home standing Eagles marched 73 yards on 13 plays and tied the game 7-7. Alabama Christian converted a third down and two fourth downs on the drive and scored on the second fourth down conversion as Hayes Hunt hit Jalen Clark on a throwback to the quarterback that covered 28 yards. The two teams headed to the second quarter tied 7-7.

MA scored less than a minute into the second quarter to stretch the lead to 14-7. The Eagles responded again by holding the ball for over seven minutes, but were unable to score and turned the ball over on downs after failing to convert a 4th and 19 from the 20 yard line. MA took full advantage of the momentum and scored three plays later to take a 21-7 lead into the half.

ACA could not regain any momentum in the second half as their four drives in the half ended with two interceptions and two punts. MA added two scores and were able to play many players in the second half. The defense had two sacks in the half, one each by Otasowie Dion and Donovan Emerson, and Grant Sutton recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter. MA ran off the final 2:21 of the game in Victory formation to take home a 31-7 win.

Miller McCarthy led the defense with 10 tackles while Corey Landers and Avery Stuart each had five tackles. Otasowie Dion added four tackles and a sack with Trey Schlemmer contributing four tackles. Jalen Clark ended the night 10 for 27 with 143 yards and two interceptions, ran for 63 yards on 13 carries and caught a 28 yard touchdown pass from Hayes Hunt. Preston Hicks led the receivers with four receptions for 80 yards while Corey Landers had three receptions for 22 yards and Hayes Hunt had two catches for 36 yards.

Next Friday, November 6th, ACA opens the playoffs as they host West Blocton in the first round.

Where Are They Now? - Gary Bradley, Jr.

Looking back at the 1975 football team, the second team in school history, we caught up with Gary Bradley Jr. to talk about his time at Alabama Christian and what he is doing these days. The Eagle squad won the first game in school history 45 years ago today, October 24, 1975. The senior quarterback scored the game’s only touchdown in the 6-0 victory. Bradley and his fellow Eagles helped pave the way for Alabama Christian football as we know it today.

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What year did you graduate from Alabama Christian? 1976

What grades did you attend at Alabama Christian? 11th-12th 

What is your favorite football memory? Winning our first game in the history of the program against Hayneville in the 1975 season. I scored the only touchdown of the game and had three interceptions to help us win.

Who took you under their wing when you joined the varsity team? Coach Mitch Grubb welcomed me to the team having just moved to Montgomery in 1974 from Chattanooga, which was his hometown as well.

Who was your most memorable teammate? Our center, Gary Gregory. I got my bell rung on a play and when we huddled up for the next play, I called a play that did not exist. Gary called to the official, “We need time, our quarterback doesn’t know where he is.”

What teacher/coach had the most influence on you? Both coach Mike Lusk and Mitch Grubb had a positive influence on me.

Where do you currently live? Columbiana, Alabama

What do you do for a living? I’m an Assistant District Attorney in the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.

Tell me about your family. I have three grown sons and eight grandchildren.

 

 Rapid Fire

Favorite Movie: Tombstone

Dream Vacation Spot: Any lake

Who is the person you most admire: My autistic grandson

Early morning or Late night person: Late night

Alabama or Auburn (or other): God put crimson blood in my veins

Alabama Christian Defeats Bullock County on Record Setting Night

Records are made to be broken and that’s just what the ACA football team did Friday night with a 32-14 win over Bullock County. The victory was the eighth in a row for the Eagles and surpasses the seven game winning streak set by the 2017 team for most consecutive games won in program history. This year’s squad also finished undefeated in Region play for the first time since the Region format expanded in 2000.

Individually, two players added their name to the record book Friday night. Senior Miller McCarthy broke the record for most solo tackles in a career with four against the Hornets and now has 139 to his credit and is only 17 total tackles (solo and assisted) away from holding that mark as well. Coach Nate Sanford said this about McCarthy, “Miller has been one of the most steady performers I have ever coached on the defensive side.” The linebacker led the Eagles again Friday night with nine tackles against the Hornets.

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On the offensive side of the ball, Jalen Clark’s rushing touchdown early in the second quarter was his 20th of the year and set a new season record for the program. With the score, the senior also tied Reese Solar for the career mark for rushing touchdowns (36) and total touchdowns (40). Coach Sanford said, “Jalen has played on an incredibly high level all year and hasn’t played his best ball yet.” Sanford also added “Both Jalen and Miller are quintessential captains.”

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The contest against Bullock County was a hard fought battle. After the game, Coach Sanford commented, “This was a very tough, very physical game tonight. Bullock County came to play, but our guys rose to the challenge with some key stops in the red zone, especially to close the first half.” Some spectators thought the Hornets might have resorted to psychological warfare as the lights shone directly into the eyes of the fans and the announcer repeated “Hornet fans, make some noise” over and over again.

ACA opened the game with a time consuming 13 play drive that lasted 9:11, but came away with no points. The Eagles were set up first and goal at the 10 yard line, but a delay of game penalty and two holding calls turned a promising opening drive into a third and goal from the 41 yard line. The offense turned the ball over on downs two plays later. The defense did its job when it hit the field as Bullock County punted after three snaps. The key play for the defense was a tackle for loss on 2nd down by Khalil Jackson and Will Wright. The Eagles were on the move as the first quarter ended with the score tied 0-0.

The defense gangs up on the Hornet runner.

The defense gangs up on the Hornet runner.

The Eagles kept the ball on the ground on their drive, that started in the first quarter and ended on the second play of the second quarter, as Jalen Clark ran 27 yards on a keeper up the middle to give ACA the lead with 11:11 remaining in the half. The Hornets jumped offsides on the extra point attempt which led Alabama Christian to go for two. Clark easily scored on the play and the Eagles led 8-0. Once again, the defense got the ball back to the offense after a three and out for Bullock County. Trey Schlemmer began the series with a tackle for loss as he forced the Hornet back out of bounds around the right end. ACA’s second score of the night was set up by the longest pass play of the contest as Jalen Clark hit Hayes Hunt on a 53 yard catch and run to the Hornet 25 yard line. The drive ended with Clark hitting Corey Landers on a middle screen that covered 11 yards and gave the Eagles a 15-0 advantage with 5:44 left in the quarter. Bullock County put together an impressive drive to end the first half as they drove the length of the field, but were kept out of the end zone by the ACA defense. The Hornets got as close as the Eagle three yard line, but Khalil Jackson and Will Wright teamed up again for a tackle behind the line of scrimmage that moved Bullock County back to the seven. With time running out, the Hornets attempted a field goal on fourth down and missed badly to keep the score at 15-0 heading into halftime.

Hayes Hunt off and running on a 53 yard pass play.

Hayes Hunt off and running on a 53 yard pass play.

The third quarter began with another long possession for the Bullock County offense that produced no points. The Hornets held the ball for 17 plays and took 9:41 off the clock before giving the ball back to ACA. As Bullock County was inside the Eagle ten yard line, the ACA defense was up to the challenge and turned the Hornets away. On second and goal from the eight, D’Andre Sneed broke up a pass at the goal line and on third down Khalil Jackson, who lived in the Hornet backfield, dropped the Bullock County back for an eleven yard loss which set up a fourth and goal from the 19 yard line. An incomplete pass on fourth down gave the ball to ACA for the first time in the second half with 2:19 left in the third quarter. The Eagles scored on the last play of the quarter as Otasowie Dion followed his blockers around right end and raced 62 yards for the touchdown. After the extra point attempt was blocked, ACA led 21-0 heading to the fourth quarter.

Khalil Jackson with one of his four tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Khalil Jackson with one of his four tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Bullock County opened the quarter with a one play drive on a 78 yard bomb to a wide open receiver down the middle of the field to cut the score to 21-6. Alabama Christian responded quickly and scored in just three plays to expand the lead to 29-6. Corey Landers ran the ball on the first two plays of the drive and gained 41 yards down to the Hornet 25 yard line. Jalen Clark hit Garrett Weathers up the left sideline on a beautiful throw that covered the final 25 yards of the drive. For the second time in the game, Bullock County jumped offsides on the PAT which prompted the Eagles to successfully go for two. Like their previous possession, the Hornets scored quickly as they hooked up for a 55 yard pass play on the second play of the drive to make the score 29-14 with 9:24 left in the game. The Eagle offense kept the ball on the ground to keep the ball away from the Hornets and moved the ball to their opponent’s 20 yard line before Aaron Treubig connected on a 37 yard field goal with 4:53 left to give ACA a three score advantage at 32-14. Feeling good about their passing game, Bullock County continued to throw the ball, but Sanders Manning ended the drive with an interception at midfield with 4:15 remaining in the game. The offense could not pick up a first down to run out the clock and gave Bullock County one last chance with the ball. The game ended with the Hornets trying  to pick up another score. Trey Schlemmer left his calling card as he laid out a Hornet receiver on the last play of the game to seal the victory.

Jalen Clark getting ready to pass to Garrett Weathers for a score.

Jalen Clark getting ready to pass to Garrett Weathers for a score.

Otasowie Dion led the Eagle rushing attack with 95 yards on four carries and a score. Corey Landers gained 77 yards on 14 attempts and added one reception for 11 yards and a touchdown. Jalen Clark ran for 68 yards on 10 rushes with a touchdown and threw for 155 yards on 10 of 13 passing and two scores. Hayes Hunt led the receivers with three catches for 72 yards. Preston Hicks had two catches for 23 yards and Trey Schlemmer added two receptions for 19 yards. Garrett Weathers lone catch of the night was a 25 yard reception for a score.

Otasowie Dion outruns the Hornet defense for a touchdown.

Otasowie Dion outruns the Hornet defense for a touchdown.

After McCarthy’s nine tackles, Jack Thomas had five tackles as did Khalil Jackson who had five tackles and a sack. Corey Landers and Trey Schlemmer each had four tackles on the night and Sanders Manning added two tackles and an interception.

The Eagles (8-1, 7-0) end the regular season next Thursday night as they host MA on Pink Out Night.

Alabama Christian Hammers Straughn to Clinch Region Title

Something had to give Friday night as the number three scoring offense, in 4A, of ACA (39.4 ppg) hosted the number twelve scoring defense of Straughn (17.8 ppg). A victory would clinch Alabama Christian’s first Region championship since 1992. The two teams had not met since 2011 and the Eagles had not beaten Straughn in three previous meetings. ACA controlled the game from the outset and dominated the Tigers in a 49-7 rout, despite the DIY noise makers brought by the visiting fans.

The Eagle offense took the ball first and promptly moved down the field for the first score of the night with a seven play 62 yard drive that culminated with a 12 yard pass from Jalen Clark to Trey Schlemmer. The junior receiver slipped behind the defense on his only reception of the game for the early 7-0 lead. Kyle Jackson set the tone for a dominating performance by the defense with a tackle for loss on the first play from scrimmage and the Tigers punted after three plays. The ACA offense started the drive on their own 47 yard line and scored in just three plays. Jalen Clark carried the ball all three times and scored from 30 yards out as he spun out of a tackle around the 15 yard line and raced to the goal line to expand the lead to 14-0 with 4:37 remaining in the first quarter. The defense moved Straughn in the wrong direction on their second drive aided by a Will Wright sack on second down and forced another Tiger punt. As the quarter ended, the offense was on the move again and led 14-0 headed to the second.

Will Wright sacks the Straughn quarterback in the first half.

Will Wright sacks the Straughn quarterback in the first half.

As Alabama Christian faced a 2nd and 20 from the Straughn 33 yard line, the Eagles ran the hook and ladder to perfection for the second time this year and stretched the lead to 21-0. On the play, Jalen Clark hit Hayes Hunt for what appeared to be an eight yard completion, but a lateral to Demari Moore covered 25 more yards down the left sideline and a score. Trailing by three scores, the Straughn offense abandoned the run and passed on seven of nine plays on their next drive. ACA sacked the Tiger QB twice on the possession including a fourth down stop by Khalil and Kyle Jackson.

Demari Moore gets ready for the lateral from Hayes Hunt.

Demari Moore gets ready for the lateral from Hayes Hunt.

With half of the second quarter gone, the Eagles were just getting started and would score three more times before halftime. Corey Landers started the first drive with a 21 yard run up the middle dragging defenders the last ten yards and two plays later Jalen Clark scampered 36 yards on a sweep around the right side for his second rushing touchdown of the night and a 28-0 advantage. The Tigers suffered a sack on the first play of the next possession and turned the ball over on the second play as Will Wright recovered a fumble on the Straughn 32 yard line. Despite a holding penalty that moved the offense back to the 45 yard line, ACA scored in three plays in just 90 seconds as Jalen Clark romped 25 yards for a 35-0 lead with 2:02 left in the half. Three plays later, D’Andre Sneed separated ball and receiver and Sanders Manning came up with an interception at the Straughn 46 yard line to give the ball back to the offense with 1:45 in the second quarter. Jalen Clark hit Demari Moore for a 38 yard touchdown with 40 seconds left in the half to close out the scoring as Alabama Christian headed to the locker room with a 42-0 lead. 

Jalen Clark on his way to the end zone for his third touchdown of the night.

Jalen Clark on his way to the end zone for his third touchdown of the night.

The second half was a blur as a running clock in the fourth quarter quickened the pace. The Eagles possessed the ball only twice in the half. The first drive pushed the score to 49-0 as Otasowie Dion scored on a 27 yard run around right end with 5:17 remaining in the third quarter. Straughn had the ball three times in the half and scored with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game to make the final score 49-7.

Grant Sutton stops the Straughn runner.

Grant Sutton stops the Straughn runner.

Alabama Christian held the Straughn offense to 89 yards of total offense, 61 yards coming on the last drive of the night, in a suffocating performance. Five of the Tiger’s nine possessions ended in zero or negative yards gained. Kyle Jackson led the way with five tackles and two sacks. Miller McCarthy had four tackles and Jack Thomas added four tackles with a sack. Khalil Jackson had three tackles with two sacks and Otasowie Dion added three more tackles. Will Wright contributed a sack and a fumble recovery while Sanders Manning had an interception.

The defense swarms to the ball for the stop.

The defense swarms to the ball for the stop.

On offense, Jalen Clark completed 14 of his 16 throws to six different receivers for 183 yards and three touchdowns. Hayes Hunt led the group of receivers with five catches for 55 yards. Demari Moore totaled three catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns while Preston Hicks added three receptions for 23 yards. Clark led the Eagles in rushing with 116 yards on eight attempts and three touchdowns. Corey Landers had ten carries for 58 yards and Otasowie Dion added 41 yards on three rushes and a score.

Next week, ACA (7-1, 6-0) can finish undefeated in the Region as they visit Bullock County.

ACA Defeats Geneva in First Ever Meeting

Alabama Christian traveled two hours south to Geneva, just eight miles from the Florida state line, Friday night for a Regional matchup against the Panthers. This was the first ever meeting between the two programs as ACA looked to stay on top of the standings in Region 2 and clinch a playoff berth while Geneva tried to avoid their second loss in the Region. Jalen Clark returned to the field after missing last week’s game and helped guide the Eagles to the 49-20 victory over the home standing Panthers.

The first quarter was very similar to the Dale County game as both teams drove the ball on long, methodical drives that ate up most of the period. ACA received the opening kickoff and held the ball for 5:18 on an 11 play 68 yard drive and took an early 7-0 lead. The offense ran the ball on nine of the eleven plays during the march. Jalen Clark scored his first touchdown of the night with a tough two yard run up the middle, on fourth down, as the line pushed the Panther defense back. Geneva’s first possession matched the Eagles drive by running on nine of eleven plays and converting a fourth down. With just 46 seconds left in the quarter, the Panthers evened the game 7-7.

Jalen Clark powers in for the first touchdown of the night.

Jalen Clark powers in for the first touchdown of the night.

Alabama Christian made up for the lack of time with the ball in the previous period by scoring four times in the second quarter, including touchdowns by Jalen Clark on the first and last plays of the quarter. Clark opened the scoring as he ran 18 yards untouched on a keeper to retake the lead 14-7. The Eagle defense pushed the Panther offense backwards and forced a punt after just three snaps to give the ball back to the offense. ACA struck quickly on a four play 53 yard drive that lasted only 76 seconds. Jalen Clark found Hayes Hunt on the first two plays of the drive for back to back ten yard gains then hit Garrett Weathers on a 31 yard strike down to the Geneva two yard line. The last play was a throw to Corey Landers as the Panther defense left one defender to cover three receivers on the left side of the formation. Clark immediately threw the ball to Landers and he walked in for the score and a 21-7 lead. With the momentum of the game going the Eagles way, the defense again forced the Geneva offense backwards with the help of a Khalil Jackson sack and forced another punt. With 5:48 remaining in the half, the Eagles moved 52 yards in just 1:57 overcoming back to back holding penalties in the process. After the second holding call, ACA faced a 2nd and 28 as Jalen Clark found Otasowie Dion over the middle and as the seas parted the receiver raced for a 26 yard gain which set up a very manageable third down conversion opportunity. Two plays later, Clark hooked up with Garrett Weathers for a 33 yard scoring pass to extend the lead to 28-7. Alabama Christian used their timeouts to conserve time on the clock as the defense once again forced a three and out. The offense took the field 73 yards away from the goal line with 2:31 left in the half. The best case scenario would be for the offense to score a touchdown with no time left on the clock for the Geneva offense to respond and that’s just what happened. The Eagles moved easily to the Panther 21 yard line in seven plays, but the drive bogged down on the next three plays. After another holding call and two incomplete passes, ACA faced a 3rd and 22 with time running out. Clark dropped back to pass, but could not find a receiver. The senior quarterback took off up the middle and cut to the right at the 20 yard line, that left a defender on the ground, to score with one second remaining in the half. The Eagles left the field at halftime with a 35-7 lead.

The Eagle defense celebrates a sack by Khalil Jackson.

The Eagle defense celebrates a sack by Khalil Jackson.

The Panthers showed some fight in the third quarter as they opened the half with a nine play 63 yard drive that took 4:50 seconds off the clock to cut the score to 35-14. Any hope gained from the drive was swiftly extinguished as Otasowie Dion returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards up the left sideline for a score and a 42-14 advantage. However, the return put the tired defense right back on the field. The Geneva offense took advantage and again drove the ball for a score. The Panthers marched 69 yards on ten plays in 4:28 to cut the score to 42-20. The Eagle offense took the field for the first time in the second half with 2:28 remaining in the third quarter. ACA was unable to move the ball and was called for their fourth holding call of the game during the possession. Hayes Hunt punted the ball away on the first play of the fourth quarter and again it looked like Geneva still had a glimmer of hope. 

Otasowie Dion races 85 yards for a kickoff return touchdown.

Otasowie Dion races 85 yards for a kickoff return touchdown.

Three plays later, DeAndre Sneed intercepted a Panther pass and returned it to the Geneva 28 yard line to essentially put the game away. The Eagles final scoring drive of the night lasted five plays, all runs, and ended with a two yard Jalen Clark rush to extend the lead to 49-20 with 7:36 left in the contest. Geneva turned the ball over on downs with 4:28 remaining to put the ACA offense back on the field. Alabama Christian never gave the ball back as they ran the ball on seven consecutive plays to take all of the time off the clock to end the contest. The biggest cheer of the night came on the last drive as William Milner ran 13 yards for a first down as time ran down.

DeAndre Sneed intercepts a fourth quarter pass.

DeAndre Sneed intercepts a fourth quarter pass.

Senior linebacker Miller McCarthy led the defense with 14 tackles. Jack Thomas added eight tackles while Otasowie Dion had seven tackles. Khalil Jackson contributed five tackles and a sack while Kyle Jackson, Trey Schlemmer and Will Wright each had four tackles in the game.

Miller McCarthy and friends stop the Panther runner.

Miller McCarthy and friends stop the Panther runner.

On offense, Jalen Clark completed ten passes on fourteen attempts for 146 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 144 yards on 15 carries with four touchdowns. Clark became the only player in ACA history to have three games with at least four touchdowns carries. Corey Landers gained 81 yards on 12 carries and added a two yard touchdown reception. Otasowie Dion had three carries for 21 yards while William Milner added three rushes for 19 yards. Four receivers each caught two passes on the night. Garrett Weathers led the receivers with 64 receiving yards and a touchdown. Demari Moore had 26 yards, Hayes Hunt had 20 yards and Preston Hicks had eight yards receiving. For the second time this year, Aaron Treubig kicked seven extra points which tied for the second most in school history.

Aaron Treubig kicks one of his seven extra points.

Aaron Treubig kicks one of his seven extra points.

Next week, ACA (6-1, 5-0) looks to continue their winning streak as they host Straughn in another Region tilt. 

Alabama Christian Loses to PCA in Regular Season Finale

The Lady Eagles played their third home game of the week as they hosted PCA in the final game of the regular season Thursday night. ACA lost to the Lady Panthers in three straight games 12-25, 21-25, 9-25. Despite the sweep, the match went back and forth as neither team was able to make a long run on their service game. The longest run of the night was just four points for either side. The Lady Panthers won Game one easily, but ACA came back in Game two and played their best game of the match. Besides taking a 1-0 lead, the Eagles trailed the whole game, but cut the lead to two points at 21-23. A service error stopped the rally and PCA won 21-25. PCA jumped out to a 3-15 lead early in Game three and breezed to the 9-25 win to sweep the match.

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Claire Forrester led the ACA attack with seven kills while Jordan Smithee added four kills. Michaelyn Manning had 14 assists with four kills and two aces. The Lady Eagles next play in the Area Tournament on Wednesday.

Where Are They Now? - Sarah Ford

Looking back ten years to the 2010 volleyball team, we caught up with Sarah Ford to talk about her time at Alabama Christian and what she is doing these days. The 2010 team finished 24-16 and advanced to the Elite Eight in the state playoffs. As a junior, Sarah led the team in aces and assists for the season and was second in kills. She also finished her career with the most aces in school history and ranks third all time in assists.

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What year did you graduate from Alabama Christian? 2012

 What grades did you attend at Alabama Christian? 10th-12th

 What is your favorite memory of Alabama Christian? I don’t remember what the occasion was, but Mr. (Paul) Fisher was wearing an ostrich costume. It made it look like he was riding the ostrich. It was hilarious and he kept acting like the ostrich was trying to attack people. 

 What is your favorite volleyball memory? Probably my senior year (2011), we won a ton of tournaments and we were all really close.

 Who took you under their wing when you joined the varsity team? Bridget Barker was awesome! She was so nice to me and tried to include me on a lot of things.

 Who was your most memorable teammate? Shelby Traff, not only was she a great player, but she was always doing something funny/crazy. She’d wear her hair in pigtails or be trying to learn a new dance. Never a dull moment with her. 

 What teacher/coach had the most influence on you? That one is easy, Coach (Manuel) Guice. My first year we sort of butted heads, but after that we got really close. He was someone I constantly went to for advice and help, not just in volleyball situations. We still keep in touch! 

 Did you continue playing volleyball after high school? I did! I played at Faulkner for 4 years.

 Where do you currently live? Jackson, Mississippi 

 What do you do for a living? I’m the assistant volleyball coach at Millsaps College, a NCAA Division 3 school.

Rapid Fire

Favorite Food: Shrimp tacos

Pet Peeve: Tags sticking out of people’s shirts

Person I'd most like to meet: Karch Kiraly or Kerri Walsh Jennings

Ride or Drive: Ride

Alabama or Auburn (or other): Neither. I’m a weirdo Tennessee fan. Thanks dad!

ACA Beats Elmore County for Second Win of the Season

Despite enduring a tough season, the Lady Eagles played with a lot of effort Monday night in a victory over Elmore County. Alabama Christian dropped the first game of the match, but rebounded and won the next three to take the contest in four, 11-25, 25-17, 25-12, 25-20. The Eagles started slow and were behind as much as 4-20 at one point in the first game before losing 11-25. In Game two, Anna Prempramot started with three straight points on her serve to give the Lady Eagles the early lead. ACA stretched the lead very slowly through the rest of the game scoring no more than three points on any serve the rest of the way. Lynleigh Stephen helped Alabama Christian gain control of Game three as the Lady Eagles ran off eight straight points on her serve to take a 15-4 lead. The Panthers could never close the gap and would lose the game 25-12. in the final game of the match, Prempramot served ACA to an early 4-0 lead and the Eagles built a 14-6 lead, but could not put the Panthers away. Elmore County would get as close as 21-19, but the Eagles were able to hold them off and win the game 25-20.

Lynleigh Stephen serves against Elmore County.

Lynleigh Stephen serves against Elmore County.

Claire Forrester led the ACA attack with ten kills and Cayla Schofield added nine kills with two blocks. Jordan Smithee had seven kills and four aces while Leighton Peake had four aces and three kills. Anna Prempramot had a team high 28 assists and did a great job tracking down errant passes from the back row to set up the hitters. The freshman also delivered three kills and three aces.

Alabama Christian will continue to play at home tomorrow night in an Area game against LAMP.

Eagles Celebrate Homecoming with Convincing Win Over Ashford

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lady Eagles Beaten by MA in Three Straight

Alabama Christian hosted MA Tuesday night in an Area contest. The Lady Eagles were over matched and fell in three straight games, 6-25, 12-25, 8-25. MA was able to jump out to insurmountable leads in each of the three games and never allowed the Eagles to string together points or gain any momentum. Claire Forrester led the offensive attack with six kills while Jordan Smithee had two kills. Cayla Schofield had two blocks and one kill. Michealyn Manning had nine assists on the night.

The Lady Eagles next play Elmore County next Monday, October 5th.

ACA Sits Atop Region 2 with Victory Over St James

It’s not often that a game of this magnitude lives up to the hype, but with sole possession of first place on the line in the Region, the contest between Alabama Christian and St James was an instant classic and will not be forgotten by the Eagle nation anytime soon. Even the weather cooperated with a perfect night for football with no rain or lightning. The Trojans have historically had the upper hand in the series and had beaten ACA the last six times the two teams had met. However, this is a new season and the Eagles came away with an incredible 47-41 overtime triumph in a game for the ages.

The Eagles won the toss and took the ball to start the action. The offense missed a scoring opportunity on the first play of the game as Jalen Clark found a receiver behind the defense, but the catch was not made. Three plays later, ACA put the first points of the night on the board as Clark hit Demari Moore for a 32 yard touchdown for the 7-0 lead. On the play, Moore ran right by two Trojan defenders and the pass hit him in stride at the goal line for the easy score. The defense stuffed the St James running attack on its first drive and gave the ball back to the offense with a three and out. The Eagles second possession lasted ten plays and covered 52 yards, but produced no points as Clark was intercepted in the end zone on 4th and 14 from the 16 yard line to end the drive. ACA’s defense forced another punt attempt for the Trojans which resulted in a fumbled snap by the punter and set up the Eagles at the St James seven yard line. Jalen Clark scored up the middle on the very next play to end the first quarter with a 13-0 advantage.

Jalen Clark looks for an open receiver downfield.

Jalen Clark looks for an open receiver downfield.

Another miscue by St James set up the next Eagle score as Khalil Jackson recovered a Trojan fumble at the opponent’s 45 yard line. Jalen Clark raced through the defense for a 39 yard gain on the first play of the drive, sat out a play due to his helmet coming off, then finished the drive with a six yard run for a 19-0 lead with 9:52 left in the second quarter. What felt like a blowout brewing would turn into a nail biter by the end of the night. The Trojan offense finally got on track and scored its first touchdown of the night on a five play 65 yard drive that cut the deficit to 19-7. Alabama Christian responded quickly with a three play 73 yard strike for a 26-7 lead. The drive started with a 41 yard catch and run by Hayes Hunt and ended with a 28 yard connection with Demari Moore between two defenders as Clark threw his second touchdown pass of the night. Late in the half, St James scored on a 19 yard pass to cut the score to 26-14. Disaster almost struck as ACA fumbled away the kickoff to give the Trojan offense one more shot at points with 27.5 seconds remaining in the first half. Luckily, for the Eagles, St James missed a field goal attempt from 38 yards on the last play of the quarter. ACA enjoyed a 26-14 lead heading into the half. 

Sanders Manning and Jack Thomas combine for a stop.

Sanders Manning and Jack Thomas combine for a stop.

St James struck quickly to start the third quarter with a 61 touchdown pass on a 3rd and 6 play. The scoring play should have just been a 12 yard completion for a first down, but two missed tackles turned into six points. Neither team scored on its next possession, but the Trojans did drive the ball all the way to the Eagle 4 yard line before being turned away. On 3rd and goal, Jack Thomas sacked the St James quarterback for a 4 yard loss and on 4th down the Trojans missed another field goal to keep the score 26-20. ACA took advantage and again scored swiftly with a three play 80 yard drive in just 80 seconds. Jalen Clark scored from 36 yards out to complete the drive and a 33-20 lead. St James answered to end the third quarter with a touchdown with just 28.4 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 33-27. The stage was set for an epic fourth quarter where both teams stood in the middle of the ring and traded haymakers, neither refusing to quit.

Demari Moore off and running on a pass play.

Demari Moore off and running on a pass play.

ACA fumbled on the first play of the fourth quarter and set up the Trojan offense on the Eagle side of the field. St James held the ball for the next 11 plays and took their only lead of the evening after a four yard run to make the score 33-34. The Eagle coaching staff reached into its bag of tricks and scored on a perfectly executed hook and lateral that covered 61 yards. The Trojan defense had no idea what was happening as Hayes Hunt lateraled to Demari Moore. No one would catch Moore as he raced down the left sideline to help his team retake the lead. ACA was good on the two point conversion and held a 41-34 lead with 5:47 left in regulation. It only took St James two plays to score and tie the game, 41-41. The stage was set with 4:51 left in the game for the Eagles to drain the clock and score late for the victory. ACA did keep the ball for the remainder of the game, but failed to score. This incredible contest was headed to overtime tied 41-41.

Miller McCarthy punishes the Trojan running back.

Miller McCarthy punishes the Trojan running back.

The Eagles won the toss to start overtime and chose to play defense first. St James got the ball at the 10 yard line and had four plays to score. On the first two plays, the Trojans gained nine yards to the 1 yard line and it looked like a score was inevitable. The Eagle defense had other ideas and rose to the occasion to keep St James out of the end zone. On third down, the Eagles threw the Trojan QB for a four yard loss setting up a fourth down play. After a delay of game penalty, the Trojans attempted and missed their third field goal of the night to come away with no points. After a Demari Moore one yard run, Jalen Clark closed out the game with a nine yard touchdown run and a monumental 47-41 victory over St James.   

Jalen Calrk looks for yards around right end.

Jalen Calrk looks for yards around right end.

In a career of great performances, Jalen Clark might have played his best game against the Trojans. The senior quarterback had a hand in all seven ACA touchdowns (four running and three passing) and accounted for 483 of the 500 yards of total offense on the night. Clark completed 12 of 19 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns and added 206 yards on the ground with four touchdowns. He becomes the sixth player to score at least four rushing touchdowns in a game in school history and joins Courtney Moss as the only players to accomplish the feat twice. 

ACA players and students celebrate the overtime win over St James.

ACA players and students celebrate the overtime win over St James.

Demari Moore led the receiving corps with a record night of his own. Moore had five receptions for 161 yards, fourth most in a game in school history, and three touchdowns, which ties for the most in a single game. Hayes Hunt added four catches for 66 yards and Garrett Weathers had two catches for 41 yards. Miller McCarthy led the defense with 12 tackles and Jack Thomas added nine tackles and a sack. Otasowie Dion tallied five tackles while Jalen Clark had three tackles and an interception.

Alabama Christian (4-1, 3-0) hosts Ashford for Homecoming next week in another important Region game.

ACA Wins 200th Game in Program History with Defeat of Dale County

There were four undefeated teams left in Class 4A Region 2 entering play on Friday night. Two of those teams, ACA and Dale County, squared off in an important match up that would keep the winner in first place. Six different players scored as the Eagles soundly defeated the Warriors 40-20. Alabama Christian left Midland City with a W for the first time in the short series and sat atop the standings in the Region. In true 2020 fashion, the start of the second half was delayed one hour and forty minutes due to the lights going out at the stadium.

The Eagles received the opening kickoff and methodically marched 73 yards in eight plays in 3:30 to take an early 7-0 lead. The key play of the drive was a 39 yard Corey Landers run to the Warriors 30 yard line. The steady Landers finished the game with 112 yards on 18 carries. Dale County received the benefit of an inadvertent whistle on their first drive. What the Eagles thought at best, was a fumble recovery for the defense or at worst, a 4th and 10 for the Warriors turned into a replay which helped Dale County score two plays later to cut the lead to 7-6. The score finished a 10 play 80 yard drive covering 5:44 of the quarter. With both teams running the ball and the clock, it looked like possessions would be at a premium as the first quarter ended during ACA’s second drive.

Jalen Clark looks down field for an open receiver.

Jalen Clark looks down field for an open receiver.

Alabama Christian scored on the first play of the second quarter as Jalen Clark found Preston Hicks for a 16 yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 14-6. Clark had runs of 18 and 35 yards on the drive to help set up the throw to Hicks. The defense stopped Dale County on a bizarre drive on the next possession. The Warriors held the ball for nine plays and used up 5:02 of the second quarter clock yet gained just 10 yards. This drive also produced another inadvertent whistle that the officials just seemed to ignore. Finally on a 4th and 30 the Warriors punted the ball back to ACA. With 6:51 remaining in the half, the offense’s goal was to keep the ball, run the clock and score with no time for Dale County to counter. in doing just that, the Eagles put together a 13 play 77 yard march that left just 2:04 for the Dale County offense to work with. ACA converted two fourth downs on the drive to keep the ball. The second conversion was a 16 yard run by Jalen Clark on a 4th and 12. Clark hit Hayes Hunt on a slant on the next play that covered 16 more yards and gave the Eagles a 21-6 lead heading into the locker room.

Jack Thomas stops the Dale County runner.

Jack Thomas stops the Dale County runner.

At halftime the fireworks started and the stadium lost its lighting. After a two hour intermission, the teams retook the field for the second half. The long layoff did not seem to affect the Eagles as they dominated the third quarter. The defense started the dominance pushing the Warriors backwards two yards over three plays and forcing a punt. ACA ran the ball on six consecutive plays for 47 yards on the scoring drive. Demari Moore scored on an eight yard run around left end to make the score 27-6. Once again, the defense pitched a three and out to get the ball back in the hands of the offense. The offense scored for the fifth time in five tries to take a commanding 34-6 lead. The key play of the drive was a 3rd and 12 conversion as Hayes Hunt made an acrobatic catch on a 31 yard pass from Clark to set the Eagles up at the Warrior 14 yard line. Two plays later, Clark hit Corey Landers, coming out of the backfield, down the middle on a 14 yard pass. Clark finished the night completing five of seven passes for 81 yards and three touchdowns. Dale County fumbled the ensuing kick off and Otasowie Dion recovered for Alabama Christian.

Hayes Hunt holds onto a spectacular catch for a third down conversion.

Hayes Hunt holds onto a spectacular catch for a third down conversion.

As the fourth quarter started, the Eagles were unable to convert the turnover into points, but did run off 3:11 of the clock before they gave the ball back to Dale County after a missed field goal attempt. The Warriors had the ball for only five plays before they had to punt the ball back to ACA. Khalil Jackson and Grant Sutton combined for a sack that helped stuff the Dale County drive. The Eagles last scoring drive of the night started with a 53 yard Otasowie Dion jaunt and ended three plays later with a two yard Dion carry for a 40-6 lead with 5:17 remaining in the game. Dale County scored a late touchdown to cut the score to 40-12 and then received a gift from the Alabama Christian special teams on the kickoff as the Eagles failed to field the kick and the Warriors recovered at the one yard line. Dale County scored on the next play to make the score 40-20. The next kick went out of bounds and ACA ran off the final 3:13 of the game for the key Region win.

Khalil Jackson and Grant Sutton combine for a sack.

Khalil Jackson and Grant Sutton combine for a sack.

Jalen Clark led the rushing attack with 152 yards on 22 attempts and a touchdown. Otasowie Dion had 55 yards on two carries while Demari Moore had 29 yards on three carries as each scored a touchdown. Three different receivers caught touchdown passes on the night led by Hayes Hunt with two catches for 47 yards. Preston Hicks had two receptions for 20 yards and Corey Landers added one reception for 14 yards. Otasowie Dion led the defense with eight tackles and a fumble recovery. Khalil Jackson had seven tackles and a sack while Miller McCarthy and Jack Thomas each had five tackles. Jalen Clark, Kyle Jackson, Sanders Manning, and Grant Sutton each had three tackles with Sutton adding a sack.

Otasowie Dion rumbles 53 yards against the Warrior defense.

Otasowie Dion rumbles 53 yards against the Warrior defense.

Next week, ACA (3-1, 2-0) takes on St James in a battle for sole possession of first place in the Region if the Trojans win their contest on Saturday.  

Alabama Christian Falls to Catholic

ACA looked for their second win in a row Tuesday night, but were defeated by Catholic in three games 12-25, 20-25, 17-25. Michaelyn Manning led the team with twelve assists, nine digs and four aces along with five kills. Jordan Smithee led the offense with seven kills with three digs. Haley Cassidy and Leighton Peake each produced three digs and two aces.

Thursday night is Senior Night as the Eagles (1-9) host Prattville in their next contest.

ACA Beats Tallassee in Three Straight

The Lady Eagles were looking for their first win of the season Monday night as they hosted Tallassee. ACA defeated the Lady Tigers 25-10, 25-14, 25-21 in a dominating performance. The Eagles started fast as they scored eight straight points on Michaelyn Manning’s serve for an early 9-0 lead. Two servers later, Alabama Christian ran off nine consecutive points on Haley Cassidy’s serve for a 21-4 lead and went on to win the first game 25-10.

Haley Cassidy gets ready to serve against Tallassee.

Haley Cassidy gets ready to serve against Tallassee.

ACA was a little flat to begin Game two and the games was tied 9-9 midway through the game. Like Game one, the Lady Eagles received a boost from Michaelyn Manning’s serve game with six consecutive points for a 15-9 edge. Alabama Christian continued to pull away and won easily, 25-14. Tallassee gave ACA all it could handle in Game three as they returned kill attempt after kill attempt and remained even throughout the game. Neither team led by more than three points in the game until Leighton Peake finished the match with a kill and a 25-21 win to complete the sweep.

Michaelyn Manning sets up a teammate for the kill.

Michaelyn Manning sets up a teammate for the kill.

Michaelyn Manning led the team with a season high 20 assists along with six aces and four kills. Lynleigh Stephen’s eight aces on the night tied for third most in a match in program history and added three digs. Claire Forrester and Leighton Peake each had six kills while Ashlyn Harris added three kills and three assists.

ACA (1-8) will host Prattville in their next contest on Thursday night on Senior Night.


ACA Wins Weather Delayed Game Over BTW

The game between ACA and BTW started late and had an hour delay near the end of the first quarter with Alabama Christian leading 14-0, but in the end the Eagles walked away with their second win in a row and moved to 1-0 in the Area. The second, third, and fourth quarters were shortened to ten minutes each, but ACA was able to score three more touchdowns for the 35-6 victory.

Special teams set up the first Eagle touchdown as Avery Stuart blocked a BTW punt and set up the offense on the Golden Eagles’ 18 yard line. Three plays later, Corey Landers scored his first touchdown of the night with a six yard run to give ACA an early 7-0 lead. The defense once again forced a punt after only three BTW snaps to get the ball back to the offense. Like the previous drive, Alabama Christian scored in just three plays this time covering 61 yards. The drive opened with a middle screen from Jalen Clark to Corey Landers that gained 45 yards down to BTW’s 16 yard line. Trey Schlemmer caught a slant pass for 13 yards down to the three yard line on the next play. Clark finished the drive with his legs with a three yard run to stretch the lead to 14-0. BTW faced a third and twelve with 1:58 remaining in the first quarter when the game was delayed due to lightning.

Avery Stuart blocks a first quarter punt.

Avery Stuart blocks a first quarter punt.

After the lengthy delay, the Eagle defense continued to impress with their third consecutive three and out to help put the offense back on the field. Corey Landers took the hand off on four straight plays and gained 48 yards, the last three on a touchdown run, to extend the lead to 21-0. Landers would finish the night with six rushes for 54 yards and two touchdowns. Despite an ACA turnover, the defense continued to shine shutting down the BTW offense on every possession. Alabama Christian held the Golden Eagles to ten yards of offense in the first half. The Eagles final score of the half came on a seven play 52 yard drive that ate up the last four minutes of the second quarter. Otasowie Dion got the drive kick started with a 17 yard run for a first down to the BTW 38 yard line. Three plays later, Jalen Clark hit a streaking Avery Stuart on a 32 yard pass play down to the two yard line. Clark completed three of six passes on the night for 90 yards and finished this drive with a four yard run with just 33.7 seconds remaining in the half. ACA headed to the locker room with a 28-0 advantage.

In the second half, the lightning stopped but the rain continued to fall. With a big lead and a wet track the run game was featured for the remainder of the game. The Eagles first possession of the half produced the last score of the evening as Jalen Clark raced through the BTW defense for a 51 yard touchdown run for a commanding 35-0 lead. Clark finished the game with eight carries and gained 62 yards with three touchdowns. ACA had the ball three more times in the half and took time off the clock, but failed to score. BTW scored a late touchdown to make the final score 35-6.

Jett Annis keeps a defender out of the backfield.

Jett Annis keeps a defender out of the backfield.

Through three quarters, while the starters were in against BTW, the ACA defense allowed just one first down and held the Golden Eagles to 18 yards of total offense. BTW gained zero yards or lost yards on 16 of 25 snaps through the first three quarters. Even with the 80 yard touchdown run given up late in the game, BTW ended the night with 89 yards of offense. Senior Miller McCarthy led the defense with seven tackles. Kyle Jackson ended the night with five tackles and a sack with Jack Thomas adding five tackles. Khalil Jackson and Trey Schlemmer each had four tackles and Donovan Emerson contributed three tackles with a sack.

Alabama Christian (2-1) continues Area play next week with a visit to Dale County.

Lady Eagles Fall to LAMP in an Area Matchup

ACA traveled across town Thursday night to play LAMP in an Area tilt. The Eagles were closer to full strength and played a tough match against the Golden Tigers before falling in three straight games, 16-25, 21-25, 21-25. After Alabama Christian scored the first point of the match, Lamp ran off nine straight points for an early 9-1 lead. ACA closed the gap to 15-19 late in the match when they scored five consecutive points while Lynleigh Stephen served. LAMP responded as they won six of the last seven points in the game for a 25-16 victory.

Leighton Peake on the attack against LAMP.

Leighton Peake on the attack against LAMP.

In Game two, the Lady Eagles started quickly and gained a 7-1 advantage as they scored five of their seven points on the serve of Stephen. The Golden Tigers again responded with a 10-4 run to take a 12-11 lead. The game remained close to the end, but LAMP prevailed 25-21. LAMP scored the first six points of Game three and it looked like the air had been taken out of the Eagle attack. However, ACA fought back and took a 12-11 lead midway through the game. Haley Cassidy provided a spark with five straight points on her serve during the run. The game was tied 21-21 very late, but LAMP tallied the last four points to clinch the match.

Jordan Smithee led the Eagles in kills against LAMP.

Jordan Smithee led the Eagles in kills against LAMP.

Jordan Smithee led the offense with 13 kills while Leighton Peake added three kills. Ashlyn Harris contributed two kills, two assists and an ace. Michaelyn Manning led the squad with 17 assists and added two kills. Lynleigh Stephen led the team with three aces. Alabama Christian (0-8) will take on Prattville next Thursday at home in its next contest.

ACA Continues to Struggle Early in Season

The Alabama Christian volleyball team continued to feel the affects of a short-handed roster as they lost Tuesday afternoon to Trinity and Brew Tech in a tri-match at Trinity. Illness and injury have wreaked havoc on the Lady Eagles over the past ten days. ACA lost to Brew Tech 10-25, 19-25 and fell to the Wildcats in two straight games.

Cayla Schofield led the Eagle attack on the afternoon with nine kills and one block. Leighton Peake had six kills with an ace and Riley Barrow added three kills. Anna Prempramot had four assists to lead the squad. ACA (0-7) will next play at LAMP in an Area contest Thursday.

Short-Handed Eagles Lose to Catholic

Only eight of the fifteen players on the roster suited up Tuesday night as the Lady Eagles hosted Catholic. ACA fell to the Lady Knights in three straight, 17-25, 19-25, 16-25. The Eagles started game one strong as they ran off the first five points on Alyson Thornton’s serve. The Lady Knights recovered quickly and scored 17 of the next 21 points for a 17-9 lead. The game stayed even from that point and Catholic prevailed 25-17. In game two, the Lady Eagles trailed 1-7 early, but stayed close to Catholic throughout the game before falling 19-25. In the final game of the night both teams played evenly through the first fourteen points of the game, but the Knights pulled away for the 25-16 win.

Eagle defense tries to stop Catholic at the net.

Eagle defense tries to stop Catholic at the net.

The Lady Eagles (0-4) will continue play this week Thursday night at MA.

Alabama Christian Wins Their First Game of the Season Over Highland Home

No current player was alive the last time ACA and Highland Home matched up in 1999 as the rivalry was renewed Friday night. The Flying Squadron had won nine of the twelve meetings and the last seven overall in the series. The Eagles looked to improve from last week’s performance and end Highland Home’s winning streak.

The Eagles chose to go on offense after they won the toss and immediately set the tone for the game. Coach Nate Sanford commented on the mind set of his team, stating, “We came out on our business tonight in all three phases of the game. Demari Moore got us started off with another big kick return and Jalen Clark did a great job of running the offense and making big plays.” Coach Sanford was equally pleased with the defense, saying, “We had four takeaways on defense and that’s a welcome sign. Highland Home had several weapons on offense and those turnovers helped neutralize their attack. I’m proud of our boys!”

Coach Sanford congratulates the offense after a score.

Coach Sanford congratulates the offense after a score.

After Moore’s 56 yard opening kickoff return, the Eagles had a short field to work and the offense scored quickly. Jalen Clark contributed to all 34 yards of the drive, rushing for 25 yards and throwing for nine more, and scored on a three yard run to put the Eagles up 6-0. Aaron Treubig hit the first of his seven extra points to make it 7-0. Treubig’s seven extra points ties for the second most made in a game in school history. The defense stepped up and recovered the first of four fumbles on the Squadron’s first drive as Kyle Jackson pounced on the ball in Highland Home territory. In what would become a familiar theme, ACA began a drive with very good field position. After an incomplete pass, the Eagles scored on the second play of the drive as Jalen Clark raced 39 yards for his second score of the night for a 14-0 lead. Alabama Christian’s defense rose up again and stopped Highland Home on a fourth and one as Miller McCarthy and Jack Thomas stuffed the running play for a three yard loss. Everyone in the stadium thought Demari Moore scored the third touchdown of the night for the Eagles on a beautiful screen pass down the left sideline. However, the official on the sideline marked him out at the one yard line and Jalen Clark scored on the next play for his third touchdown of the quarter.

Jalen Clark rushes 39 yards through the defense for a touchdown.

Jalen Clark rushes 39 yards through the defense for a touchdown.

The second quarter brought more of the same for the Squadron defense as Jalen Clark bolted up the middle for a 50 yard touchdown run, his fourth of the night, on the second play of the quarter. Clark would finish the night with 147 yards on 14 carries and became the seventh player in program history to have four rushing touchdowns in a game. After both teams failed to score on their next possession, Miller McCarthy forced another Highland Home fumble and Trey Schlemmer recovered the ball on the Flying Squadron’s 24 yard line. Garrett Weathers caught two Clark passes to cover all 24 yards of the drive, the last 13 on an incredible catch in the back of the end zone to build a commanding 35-0 lead. ACA’s offense scored on five of their six possessions of the first half. Highland Home showed some signs of life with a late score in the quarter and the Eagles took a 35-6 lead into halftime.

Trey Schlemmer celebrates another fumble recovery for the Eagle defense.

Trey Schlemmer celebrates another fumble recovery for the Eagle defense.

The Eagles did not score in the third quarter, but the defense did recover another fumble as Corey Landers picked off the ball in the air as the Highland Home runner lost control of it. Highland Home scored one touchdown in the quarter to cut the lead to 35-14 entering the fourth quarter. ACA opened the quarter with a 30 yard strike from Jalen Clark to Hayes Hunt which set up the Eagles with a first and goal at the nine yard line. Hunt caught his second ball of the night for a touchdown on the next play to extend the lead to 42-14. Clark threw for 120 yards on the night and two touchdowns completing eight passes on fourteen attempts. On the first play of the next Highland Home drive, Otasowie Dion caused the fourth turnover of the night and gave the offense the ball on its opponent’s 33 yard line. Three plays later, Dion finished the Eagle drive with a five yard touchdown run to make the score 49-14. Highland Home scored two touchdowns to close the gap to 49-28 in the fourth guarter as ACA was able to let a lot of underclassmen gain valuable playing experience in a varsity game.

Otasowie Dion takes the handoff from Jalen Clark on his way to a fourth quarter touchdown.

Otasowie Dion takes the handoff from Jalen Clark on his way to a fourth quarter touchdown.

Jalen Clark ended the night with 267 yards of total offense and accounted for six, four on the ground and two in the air, of the team’s seven touchdowns. Corey Landers finished the night with 61 yards on 11 carries and Otasowie Dion added 39 yards on five carries and a touchdown. Preston Hicks led the receiving corps with three receptions for 31 yards. Hayes Hunt had two catches for 39 and a score and Garrett Weathers added two more receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown.

Miller McCarthy led a ferocious defensive effort with 15 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Grant Sutton added seven tackles and also had a sack and a forced fumble. Otasowie Dion and Sanders Manning each contributed seven tackles.

Next week, the Eagles (1-1) open Area play with a visit to Saint James. Thank you to Leah Hunt for providing the fabulous pictures.

Lady Eagles Lose Home Opener to Trinity

Alabama Christian lost its second straight match to open the season as the Eagles fell to Trinity in three games, 13-25, 14-25, 16-25. The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead in each game and ACA was unable to overcome the slow start in all three games. Trinity was aggressive throughout the match with strong play at the net.

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Alyson Thornton led the offensive attack with six kills and added five digs, two assists and an ace. Hayley Cassidy added three kills, three digs and an assist. Michaelyn Manning had two kills and led the team with five assists and twelve digs.

Alabama Christian (0-2) will next play at Carver on Thursday, August 27th.