Straughn dominates ACA, 46-20

Published 12:54 am Saturday, September 11, 2010

MONTGOMERY- The Straughn Tigers blastd the Alabama Christian Academy Eagles 46-20 Friday night at Wade’s Field.

With the win, the Tigers improve to 3-0 and 2-0 in the region.

The loss brings the Eagles to 0-3 and 0-2 in the region.

Alabama Christian wasted little time, capping off their first drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Michael Graham to Danny Madison.

Straughn answered less then three minutes later with a 5-yard touchdown run from workhorse Chase Short, knotting the game at 7.

ACA’s next possession ended when junior defensive end Dakota Hall was able to snag an interception at the line of scrimmage, giving Straughn the ball on the Eagles 12-yard line.

After three plays of little or no gain, Straughn faced a fourth and 8 from the 10 and went for the fake field goal.

Josh Dewrell’s pass on the fake was incomplete but a pass interference call against ACA gave the Tigers new life and they didn’t let the chance slip away as Dewrell slipped into the end zone a few plays later to give the Tigers a 14-7 lead.

A few possessions later Graham was able to lead the Eagles down the field on a scoring drive the tied the game back up at 14 with two minutes left in the first half.

Straughn took advantage of its last possession of the first half as well.

After a few nice runs from Short that put ball on the 1-yard line, Dewrell finished the drive off by going around the left end untouched for his second touchdown of the half.

The extra point was no good leaving the score 20-14 heading into the half.

Straughn forced three turnovers in the second half that would prove to be difference-makers.

Following fumbles from both teams that changed possessions, ACA took over with nine minutes left in the third quarter, but Nick Allen made sure they didn’t keep the ball long as he picked off a Graham pass and returned it to the ACA 45-yard line.

Following the interception, the Tigers marched the ball straight down the field and Short finished the drive off with 9-yard touchdown run. After a failed two-point conversion, the Tigers led, 26-14.

ACA managed to keep the score close with their next drive that was centered around Myles Mays, who was able to break two runs or 20 yards and finished it off with a 17-yard touchdown run.

After missing the extra point the score was 26-20 with 46 seconds left in the third quarter.

Straughn would go on to score three more touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

The first touchdown of the fourth quarter came when Dewrell hit senior Josh Henderson in stride for a 30-yard touchdown pass, leaving the score 32-20 following the failed two-point conversion.

Nick Allen also got a touchdown as he raced 17 yards up the middle, making the score 39-20 following Dewrell’s extra point.

Straughn finished off the scoring when Austin Pickrel picked up an ACA fumble and took it 45 yards for the touchdown, giving Straughn 46-20 lead with only 1:26 left.

“Our offensive line really worked hard tonight and won their battles tonight,” said Straughn head coach Trent Taylor.

Taylor also said, “We talked to Josh Dewrell about the mistakes he made in his reads last week and he really improved this week he didn’t make many mistakes on reads if any.”

Dewrell finished the night with 16 carries for a total of 119 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and two for six for 44 yards and one touchdown through the air.

Short ended the game with 22 carries for 98 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Straughn will be back in action next Friday night as they travel to Evergreen to face the Hillcrest Jaguars. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.