Bearcats ‘beyond happy’

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: September 9, 2016

Weaver takes down Panthers for important and historic victory

Cody Ortiz (3) celebrates the touchdown Tyrik Hall scored that basically sealed Weaver’s win over Wellborn Friday night. On the cover, the Bearcats salute their fans after the historic victory. (All photos by Daniel Lee)

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

The Weaver Bearcats climbed The Hill and made a little history Friday night.

The Bearcats went on the road and beat Wellborn 27-6 in a key early game in the gauntlet that is Class 3A Region 5.

It was Weaver’s second win ever in the now 20-game series with the Panthers and its first since 2007. The Bearcats had lost the last eight meetings.

“I can’t explain how good it feels; we came up here and made history,” senior defensive end Matt Elston said. “Every time we’d get in practice the coaches would tell us what the record was, that we’ve got to come up here and make a difference. Words can’t explain how big and exciting this was. We’re beyond happy.”

Giovanni Mosley figured he was playing midget football the last time Weaver beat the Panthers in football, but it’s a couple more recent memories that burned within him on this night. There was the Junior B championship game in 2010 when Wellborn beat his team by a point. And then there was last year’s game, a 54-35 shootout that was close until late.

“They were saying before the game started this was the biggest game of the year for us because how many times they beat us and we’d come up short every time,” Mosley said. “I was just ready to win. This is my last year and I’m just glad I beat them before I left. It just meant a lot to me because I owed them one.”

The Bearcats (3-0) played like it was their biggest game. They racked up more than 400 yards of offense and outgunned the Panthers by a 2-to-1 margin. They never trailed. Mosley broke off a 71-yard touchdown run in the final 30 seconds of the first quarter and the Bearcats never looked back.

Mosley rushed for 209 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Paul Hubbard had 112 yards rushing and a touchdown in the first half. Tyrik Hall scored the Bearcats’ other touchdown.

While the offense was, as Weaver coach Daryl Hamby put it, trying to find a “niche that worked,” the defense held Wellborn’s traditionally powerful offense to 194 yards and zero points in the second half. Elston’s sack and forced fumble right after Hall’s touchdown led to Mosley’s second score that out the game out of reach. The Weaver defense had four takeaways.

“We know our defense is pretty good; they keep surprising me getting better and better every week,” Hammy said. “We love to hit, not just one or two or three guys, it’s a multitude of players. It’s almost like a fever catching. Our defense is really tenacious. Sometimes it seems like there are 15 guys out there. I like what they’re doing.”

Jordan Montgomery scored Wellborn’s touchdown in a 47-yard run early in the second quarter, but the missed extra point left the Panthers (2-1) a point short. Montgomery also thwarted two Weaver threats with end zone interceptions.

All this winning does is making the next game even bigger. The Bearcats move right into a showdown with Ohatchee Friday in another battle of region unbeatens. It’s as big a game as either team will have played in a long time. And both teams might even be ranked for the first time in more than 110 polls.

“When I look in the stands I see a lot of old Weaver guys and it’s important to them that we win,” Hamby said. “We’re doing this for a community. It’s always about a community. Wellborn has a great community (and) we want to try to bring some pride back to our community. So they can go out and wear the Weaver shirt. Don’t be ashamed of it. These guys work hard, they deserve this recognition.”

WEAVER 27, WELLBORN 6

Weaver 7 6 0 14 — 27
Wellborn 0 6 0 0 — 6

Wea – Giovanni Mosley 71 run (Riley Benavides kick), 0:27 1Q
Wel – Jordan Montgomery 47 run (kick failed), 10:09 2Q
Wea – Paul Hubbard 80 run (kick failed), 5:30 2Q
Wea – Tyrik Hall 22 run (Riley Benavides kick), 6:20 4Q
Wea – Giovanni Mosley 1 run (Riley Benavides kick), 3:27 4Q

Team stats Wea Wel
First Downs 15 12
Rushes-yds 39-369 30-86
Passing 6-16-2 9-21-2
Passing yds 57 108
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-2
Punts-avg 4-35.5 3-31.7
Penaltes-yds 8-75 3-15