E.A. Sports Today

Roundup: Cubs crush Centre

Alexandria puts on another impressive offensive performance; PV holds breath after loss

Thursday’s County scores

Alexandria 53, Cherokee County 21
Donoho 62, Coosa Christian 0
Gaston 36, Pleasant Valley 14
Ragland 34, Ohatchee 14

By Kurt Duryea
For East Alabama Sports Today

CENTRE — The sign hanging on the fence surrounding Bobby Joe Johnson Field warning visitors to tread lightly read “Not In Our House.” Unfortunately for Cherokee County, Alexandria didn’t get the memo.

The Valley Cubs kicked in the Warriors’ front door, raided their refrigerator and left only crumbs in roaring to a 53-21 victory that continued their late-season offensive fireworks and extended their winning streak to four games.

The Alexandria defense forced a fumble on the Warriors initial possession that set up a seven-play drive covering 41 yards capped by an Alton Davis 1-yard touchdown plunge. Luke Tucker connected with Austin Wells to extend the lead to 8-0 with 7:54 left in the first quarter.

Jamal Tucker didn’t take long scoring the Cubs’ second touchdown, breaking off an 80-yard run on their second possession. Another Luke Tucker two-point conversion pass made it 16-0. Jamal Tucker’s second touchdown made it 24-7 by the end of the quarter. It was 40-7 at halftime.

The Cubs (6-3) scored on their first five possessions; the Warriors (4-6) didn’t make their first defensive stop until 11.1 seconds remained in the half.

Seven different players scored touchdowns in the game for the Cubs, who have scored 50 points or more in three of their last four regular-season games. They are averaging 47 points in their four-game winning streak. They open the 5A playoffs next week at Madison County.

The Cubs rolled up 511 yards of total offense, 455 of it on the ground. Jamal Tucker rushed for 109 yards, Tyrell Gay for 100, Abdul Khalil’lah for 93 and Davis for 76.

Trying to keep up the torrid pace, CC’s Austin Hightower took the kickoff following Tucker’s touchdown run and rumbled 42 yards to the Alexandria 24. Four plays later, Tyren Dupree got the Warriors on the board when hooked up with Brendan Bray on a 13-yard scoring pass. James Sewell’s extra-point made it 16-7 with 3:06 left in the first quarter, but that was as close as the Warriors got.

Dupree threw his second touchdown pass of the game in the third quarter when he hit Justin McKnight with a 10-yard strike.

Alexandria will begin the first round of the Class 5A next Friday when they travel to Madison County. The youthful Warriors close out the 2014 with an overall record of 4-6.

The Warriors honored their 2009 Class 4A state championship team during the game.

Alexandria 24 16 13 0 — 53
Cherokee County 7 0 8 6 — 21

A – Alton Davis 1 run (Austin Wells pass from Luke Tucker)
A – Jamal Tucker 80 run (Nick Porter pass from L. Tucker)
CC – Brendan Bray 13 pass from Tyren Dupree (James Sewell kick)
A – J. Tucker 14 run (Porter pass from L. Tucker)
A – Wells 10 run (Tyrell Gay run)
A – Gay 27 run (Quinton Bowie run)
A – Abdul Khalil’llah 22 run (Kick failed)
CC – Justin McKnight 10 pass from Dupree (Dupree run)
A – Brock Pressley 29 run (L. Tucker kick)
CC – Jawaun Hood 2 run (run failed)

Gaston 36, Pleasant Valley 14

GASTON – Pleasant Valley’s playoff hopes were put on hold by the loss in its final regular season game.

The Raiders (3-7) must now hope for losses by Weaver and Westbrook Christian Friday to force a coin toss to determine the fourth playoff spot from 3A Region 6. Weaver plays White Plains and Westbrook finishes with 2A No. 5 Ranburne.

The survivor travels to 10th -ranked Region 7 champion Plainview in the opening round

The Raiders’ hopes of clinching a playoff berth early were dashed when Gaston broke open a close game by scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half.

They had been matching Gaston score-for-score, but after the Bulldogs (7-3) took a 22-14 lead, they turned the ball over on downs inside the 15 with less than two minutes left in the third quarter and never got closer. Gaston scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to pull away.

Dalton Bean and Drew Lewiski scored first-half touchdowns for the Raiders, who trailed 15-14 at the break. Bean rushed for 93 yards and had 133 all-purpose yards, while Lewiski rushed for 88 yards.

Thursday’s statewide scoreboard

Class 1A
Billingsley 38, Montevallo 15
Hackleburg 34, Phil Campbell 19
R.A. Hubbard 31, Brilliant 24

Class 2A
Cleveland 36, Southeastern 6
Cold Springs 39, Holly Pond 13
Collinsville 46, Valley Head 18
Cottonwood 40, Wicksburg 20
Ider 30, Sylvania 6
Samson 16, Pleasant Home 6
Section 37, North Sand Mountain 20

Class 3A
Daleville 35, Geneva 34
Fultondale 30, Oak Grove 26
Geraldine 41, Crossville 14
Glencoe 17, Cleburne County 10
Gordo 50, Pickens County 7
Lamar County 34, Winfield 27
Pisgah 33, Ashville 12
Sand Rock 42, Cedar Bluff 0

Class 4A
Cordova 32, Corner 10
Dadeville 27, Eufaula 0
Deshler 28, Athens 17
Hokes Bluff 31, Locust Fork 29
Northside 31, Akron 6
Rogers 27, Sheffield 26

Class 5A
Beauregard 56, Russell County 22
Fairfield 21, Sidney Lanier 0
Fairview 34, Vinemont 27
Greenville 34, Hillcrest-Evergreen 7
J.O. Johnson 49, Butler 14
Mortimer Jordan 34, Fayette County 6
Parker 13, Central-Tuscaloosa 0
Sylacauga 52, B.B. Comer 24
West Point 52, Priceville 21

Class 6A
Gardendale 55, Pelham 38
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 39, Demopolis 29
Homewood 24, Tuscaloosa County 12
Minor 27, Pinson Valley 9
Muscle Shoals 40, Buckhorn 14
Northridge 28, Walker 21
Saraland 50, Blount 9
Spanish Fort 35, Citronelle 0

Class 7A
Bob Jones 62, Austin 45
Chelsea 34, Thompson 20
Florence 50, Huntsville 20
James Clemens 46, Hamilton 6
McGill-Toolen 35, Foley31
Murphy 56, Alma Bryant 7

Friday’s games
(Calhoun County teams only)

Anniston at Fort Payne
Verbena at JCA
Decatur at Oxford
Piedmont at Oneonta
LaFayette at Saks
Weaver at White Plains

First-round playoff matchups
(Calhoun County teams only)

Class 6A
Oxford at Dothan

Class 5A
Alexandria at Madison County

Class 4A
Jacksonville at Locust Fork, Oneonta or North Jackson
Locust Fork, Oneonta or North Jackson at Saks

Class 3A
Pisgah at Piedmont
Wellborn at Geraldine
Pleasant Valley, Weaver or Westbrook Christian at Plainview

Class 1A
JCA at Hubbertville
Decatur Heritage at Donoho

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