Yellow Jackets shocked
- Updated: November 5, 2016
Muscle Shoals turns mistakes into points as it upsets second-ranked Oxford in opening round of the Class 6A playoffs
Tyetus Smith-Lindsey (1) looks to make a move against two oncoming Muscle Shoals defenders. Smith-Lindsey scored Oxford’s first touchdown. On the cover, Oxford defenders Cross Davis (19) and Clay Webb (75) try to run down a Muscle Shoals ballcarrier. (Photo by Kristen Stringer/Krisp Pics Photography)
By Brant Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD — The Muscle Shoals Trojans had won five straight first-round playoff games. Oxford had won four in a row. Somebody’s streak was going to end Friday night at Lamar Field.
The team that blinked was Oxford as Muscle Shoals turned mistakes into points to upset the second-ranked Yellow Jackets 31-17 and end their season with their first loss of the year.
“We just gave them too much tonight,” Jackets coach Ryan Herring said. “We had a great season with these kids. I am proud of what they accomplished, but it was a tough night.”
The first half was just the beginning. The Jackets gave the ball to Muscle Shoals on a failed fake punt at their own 37, fumbled to it in their own end zone and gave it another short field with an 8-yard punt. The Trojans (6-5) turned them all into touchdowns and a 21-14 halftime lead.
The Yellow Jackets (10-1) had 70 yards in penalties to 15 for the Trojans. Their defense gave up only 61 yards of total offense on 27 plays. A roughing-the-kicker penalty kept Muscle Shoals’ third touchdown drive alive. The average starting position of the three scoring drives for the Trojans was the Oxford 20 yard line.
Oxford kept fighting back after each Muscle Shoals score. Tyetus Smith-Lindsey scored on a 1- yard dive and quarterback Abe Peoples raced 73 yards for another touchdown in the second quarter. Smith-Lindsey ended up with 67 yards rushing and Peoples had 101.
Muscle Shoals kept the ball most of the third quarter as Oxford only ran four offensive plays. Carlos Davis was chewing up 122 yards on 33 carries. Still, the Trojans could only manage a field goal, but it opened a 24-14 lead going into the final quarter.
Oxford began a furious fourth-quarter comeback attempt with a 35-yard Keaton Borrelli field goal with 5:40 left in the game. Later, the Jackets got inside the 20 and were stopped on downs and had another drive stopped with an interception.
In between those drives Davis slipped into the secondary for a 39-yard touchdown run.
Both teams had a storied playoff history as the Trojans made its 17th appearance tonight, while Oxford made its 36th and trail only Colbert County, T.R. Miller and Sweetwater in playoff appearances. Oxford has missed the playoffs only seven times in the 43-year history of the playoffs.
Oxford senior Josh Thomas contemplates the night’s events following the Yellow Jackets’ season-ending loss to Muscle Shoals. (Photo by Kristen Stringer/Krisp Pics Photography)
Muscle Shoals 31, Oxford 17
Muscle Shoals 14 7 3 7 — 31
Oxford 7 7 0 3 — 17
MS – Talis Horrison 1 run (Braden Galowitch kick), 6:30 1Q
O – Tyetus Smith-Lindsey 1 run (Keaton Borelli kick), 3:11 1Q
MS – Jared Tittle fumble recovery in end zone (Braden Galowitch kick), 0:00 1Q
O – Abe Peoples 73 run (Keaton Borelli kick), 11:42 2Q
MS – Talis Horrison 2 run (Braden Galowitch kick), 5:44 2Q
MS – Braden Galowitch 24 FG, 7:26 3Q
O – Keaton Borelli 35 FG, 5:40 4Q
MS – Carlos Davis 39 run (Braden Galowitch kick), 3:32 4Q
Team stats MS Oxf
First Downs 18 11
Rushing Yds 198 166
Passing 6-10-0 8-18-1
Passing Yds 62 88
Penalties-yds 5-65 8-75
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1
K.J. Britt sets the Oxford defense in what would be the final game of his high school career. On Monday, the four-star linebacker announced his commitment to play at Auburn. (Photo by Kristen Stringer/Krisp Pics Photography)
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