HOMECOMING ‘W’ FOR FHS: Florala steam rolls Pleasant Home on Homecoming Thursday night 68-7

Published 1:15 pm Friday, October 9, 2020

The Florala High School Wildcats (7-0, 5-0) extended its undefeated streak Thursday night on Homecoming against region/county opponent Pleasant Home 68-7.

The Wildcats started their scoring effort when Zacchaeus Reese and Anthone Stone got first down rushes to the opposing 20 yard line and Jacob Nelson punched it in the end zone with 9:32 left in the first quarter.

Reese ran it in for a two-point conversion to get on the board 8-0.

Right after the touchdown, Joshua Settles recovered the kickoff for the Wildcats to start on the 39 yard line.

Jacob Nelson had a first down catch to the 27 yard line to convert on fourth down, but ended up turning over on downs.

Pleasant Home then turned the ball over on downs with 3:51 left in the first quarter.

With 2:05 left in the first quarter, Reese rushed to the end zone for another touchdown. After Zane Weeks got another two-point conversion, the Wildcats were up 16-0.

At the end of the first quarter, PHS’s Mason Anderson connected with Josh Hawkins for a first down on the opposing 25 yard line.

Nick Short opened the second quarter with a first down catch on the six yard line.

Anderson then rushed to the end zone for Pleasant Home’s sole touchdown of the night.

On the next kickoff, Austin Howell returned it all the way back to the end zone for a Wildcat touchdown. Reese rushed to the end zone for the two-point conversion to increase the Wildcat lead 24-7.

The Wildcats started on the 40 yard line after a punt from the Eagles, with 5:14 left in the half.

Wildcat quarterback Rashaad Coleman then connected with Zane Weeks for another Wildcat touchdown. After a failed two-point conversion, the Wildcats were up 30-7.

On the next drive, Pleasant Home had to punt, putting the Wildcats on their own 32 yard line.

Reese and Stone both rushed for a first down to get to the opposing 44 yard line with 1:29 left in the half.

Coleman then connected with Weeks again to put the Wildcats up 36-7 to end the half.

The Eagles opened up the second half with a punt, putting the Wildcats on the 38 yard line.

Reese then had a first down rush to the opposing two-yard line and then punched it in the end zone for the touchdown with 8:50 left in the third quarter.

Dallas Bass then ran it in for the two-point conversion to increase the Wildcat lead 44-7.

With six minutes left in the third quarter, the Wildcats recovered a fumble on the 48 yard line.

Reese then rushed it all the way to the end zone with 4:16 left in the third quarter. FHS’ #64 then ran it in the end zone for the two-point conversion to make it 52-7.

To open up the fourth quarter, Reese had an 80 yard touchdown rush. Kellan Greer ran it in the end zone for the two-point conversion to increase the Wildcat lead 60-7.

With 7:10 left in the game, Coleman had a 26 yard rushing touchdown and Griffin Hunt ran it in the end zone for the two-point conversion to end the scoring effort at 68-7.

“I was proud of the way that we responded in the second half,” FHS head coach Chris Littleton said. “Even though the score was lopsided in the first half, I don’t think we played very well in the first half. We made way too many mistakes in the first half. It took us a little while to get adjusted, but it was fun. It was nothing against Pleasant Home, we just felt like we needed to come out and make a statement on Homecoming night and we did. We also wanted to give our seniors a big night, especially our senior linemen. Every senior starting lineman scored tonight.”

Compared to the first week of the season, Littleton said his team has improved each week.

“There are still areas where there needs to be improvement,” Littleton said. “In these next few weeks, we have got to clean some of that stuff up or it is really going to hurt us. The kids are having fun. I want them to play hard and stay focused, but I want them to have a good time.”

The Wildcats take on McKenzie next week. Pleasant Home takes on Kinston next week at home.