E.A. Sports Today

Cubs keep rolling

Alexandria puts up 64 points to clinch first playoff spot since 2012

By East Alabama Sports Today

ALEXANDRIA – All of a sudden Alexandria has rediscovered its offense and just as suddenly the Valley Cubs are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2012.

The Valley Cubs lit up the scoreboard for the second straight week Friday night, going for 571 yards of offense in swamping Moody 64-37 to lock down a spot in the Class 5A playoffs.

It’s the most points they have scored in a game since putting a school-record 74 on Locust Fork in 2011. They put 50 on St. Clair County last week. They had scored only 109 points in their previous five games combined.

“That point output has surprised,” Cubs coach Frank Tucker said. “I knew we were getting better, but I’ve really been pleased we’ve been able to put that many points on the board.

“The thing I’m most proud of is how our kids have bounced back. After our worst loss (61-21 to Mortimer Jordan), the next two weeks we play our best ball. I give all the credit to the kids for just being resilient.”

Ten ball carriers combined to rush for 503 yards. Freshman Keenan Woodruff (cover photo), back after missing last week’s game for precautionary reasons, had 214 yards and three second-quarter touchdowns on 18 carries. Tyrell Gay had 76 yards on nine carries and Alton Davis had 62 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Luke Tucker completed 6 of 7 passes for 68 yards.

“We’re running the same plays we’ve been running all year, we’re just executing better,” Tucker said. “Offense is about execution more than schemes – and we’re starting to execute now.

“In the past we knew who to block, we went after them and maybe didn’t block them. Now our kids are blocking a lot better, our backs are hitting the holes better and we’re just playing with a little more confidence.”

You must be logged in to post a comment Login