Big first half sends Florala past Pleasant Home, 60-6
Published 9:33 pm Friday, September 22, 2023
- Florala’s Rayshon Coleman brings the ball down the field as Nathan Hobbs pursues on defense for Pleasant Home. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)
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Florala exploded with an offensive outburst in the first half and celebrated homecoming with a 60-6 win over county rival Pleasant Home in varsity football action Friday night.
Pleasant Home began the game at its own 22-yard-line and fumbled the ball on the first play. Florala then got a 6-yard run from Rayshon Coleman before a fumble changed hands yet again. The home defense forced a three-and-out, and a bad snap went out of the end zone for a safety. After a good kickoff return, Coleman threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Christian Greasham. The PAT was good and gave the Wildcats a 9-0 lead with 8:54 left in the opening quarter. Chris Scott had a 1-yard run until the Eagles coughed up the ball a second time.
Once again, Florala (3-1, 2-1 1A Region 2) needed only one play for a score and extended the lead to 16-0. Elijah McMeans found an opening and raced 33 yards to the end zone as Greasham booted the PAT. Pleasant Home (1-3, 0-3) continued to have trouble on offense and saw the turnover bug hurt a third time when Talan Warley threw an interception to Brody Cox.
Starting at their own 46-yard-line, the Wildcats took some time off the clock on their next drive. Coleman had an 11-yard run on second-and-9 for a first down. Two plays later, Coleman went to the air and found McMeans open for a 30-yard pass inside the red zone. Coleman moved the chains with a 13-yard run and capped the six-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Greasham was true again on the PAT and took the lead to 23-0. The Eagles gained positive yardage on their next possession with a 12-yard completion from Warley to Walt Cook on second down before the quarter ended. Warley had a 3-yard run on fourth down, but a turnover on downs came with 11:48 left until halftime.
Greyson West began the next series with a 6-yard run and then hauled in a 30-yard reception from Coleman to the visiting 7-yard line. Following a holding call and back-to-back incompletions, Coleman converted a fourth-and-goal with a 13-yard touchdown run around the left side. The PAT was no good and left the score 29-0 with 9:05 to go in the half.
Pleasant Home went three-and-out on the ensuing possession and set up another quick drive for Florala. Coleman had a 15-yard run to the midfield stripe, and McMeans followed with a 50-yard scamper to pay dirt. Coleman ran in the two-point conversion as the lead swelled to 37-0 at the 5:35 point. Warley opened the next series with a 7-yard pass to Cook and then picked up a first down with a 3-yard run. The drive fizzled out for the Eagles and gave the Wildcats one last first-half possession.
Coleman kicked off the drive with a 36-yard pass to Greasham and earned another first down after an illegal substitution penalty on the defense. After a holding call, West had a 5-yard run, and the chains moved again when Coleman threw a 35-yard completion to McMeans. Greasham then closed the first half with an 18-yard touchdown completion, and Coleman’s two-point attempt was good for a 45-0 lead at the break.
Florala capped the home scoring with a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter. West had a rushing touchdown, and Greasham pushed the lead to 53-0 with a successful two-point conversion. Ronald Johnson also found the end zone with a touchdown in the period, and Greasham’s PAT was good for a 60-0 lead at the end of the third. Pleasant Home averted the shutout with a touchdown run by DaMarrion Parker in the fourth. The PAT was no good and ended the game.
Both teams will take a break from region play on Friday, Sept. 29. Florala will travel to Samson (0-4), while Pleasant Home will host Zion Chapel (2-3).