AHS To Celebrate Homecoming
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by Dwight Turner In a fitting end to Homecoming Week festivities, the Ardmore High School Varsity Football Team scored an impressive win over the visiting Madison County Tigers at Cooper Field last Friday night. Riding on the crest of a 20-point fourth quarter, Ardmore came away with a 37-14 win and ran its season mark to 5-1. The Tigers are 3-1 in regional action, with their only loss coming to powerhouse North Jackson, who narrowly defeated East Limestone on Friday night. |
Jeffery Boyce (6), wraps up a Madison County Tiger during Friday night’s game as Ardmore Tigers, from left, Duron Robinson (4), Jake Stagner (88), JJ Jones (50), Jared Robison (55), Bubba Lobberecht (21) and Will Lewis (11) move on the play. (photo by Bobby Malone) |
Standout tailback Derrick Green had another stellar game, rushing for 154 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Elijah Barnes also had a big night, rushing for two touchdowns, passing for a two-point conversion, and hitting on critical pass plays all night.
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Things didn’t begin well for Ardmore. After a Tiger fumble, Madison County fullback David Sloan ran 43 yards up the gut to give the visitors a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. Ardmore’s touchdown was the first score given up by Madison County in 14 consecutive quarters. Ardmore answered with an impressive nine-play, 66-yard drive that culminated in a one-yard run by Green. Barnes completed two key passes in the drive, both giving the Tigers a first down. On the first pass, Barnes hit tight end Jake Stagner for a 13-yard gain and, on the next play from scrimmage, hooked up with fullbak Landon Curtis for a 19-yard gain. The extra-point attempt was unsuccessful and Madison Ccounty still held a 7-6 lead with 6:12 remaining in the first quarter. |
Ardmore quarterback Elijah Barnes dives across the goal line for one of his two touchdowns for the evening as Gary Stewart (65) trails on the play during the Tigers’ Homecoming win Friday night against Madison County, 37-14. (photo by Bobby Malone) |
Ardmore’s next drive was even more impressive. Taking over at their own 15-yard line, the Tigers marched 85 yards in 13 plays for their second touchdown of the game. Green picked up a total of 43 yards in the drive and again scored from one yard out with 6:58 left in the first half. Barnes hit wide out Will Lewis with a pass on the two-point conversion and the Tigers went up 14-7.
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Madison County fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and Jarrod Mullins pounced on the loose ball, giving the Tigers a first down at the Madison County 24 yard-line. Ardmore scored twice on the next drive, but both touchdowns were nullified by holding penalties. With 4:56 left in the half, Curtis drilled a 38-yard field goal to put Ardmore up 17-7. Madison County, however, refused to roll over. The visitors struck quickly, scoring a touchdown on a five-play, 72-yard drive. The extra-point attempt was good and the Ardmore lead was cut to 17-14. That’s where matters stood at the half. Neither team was able to score in the third quarter as both defenses stiffened. Ardmore, however, exploded in the final 12 minutes. Ardmore drove down the field early in the fourth quarter, but faced a fourth-and-one from the Madison County five yard-line. Barnes took the ball on a keeper and picked up two yards, giving the Tigers a first-and-goal at the Madison County three yard-line. On the next play, Barnes carried the ball in for the score. The extra-point attempt failed, but the Tigers led 23-14 with 9:20 left to play. |
Buried beneath teammate Will Lewis (11) and a host of Madison County Tigers, Ardmore Tiger Jarrod Mullins recovers a kickoff fumbled by Madison County during Friday night’s Homecoming game when Ardmore won 37-14. (photo by Bobby Malone) |
Madison County was unable to move the ball against a stingy Ardmore defense on its next possession and was forced to punt. The Tigers ended up with great field position, setting up shop at the Madison County 38. Facing a fourth-and-three at the Madison County 31, the Tigers went for it. Barnes raced around right end and rambled all the way to the end zone for his second score of the quarter. Curtis booted the point-after and the Tigers extended their lead to 30-14 with 4:31 left to play.
Ardmore was not finished.
After Grant Sandlin recovered another Madison County fumble on the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers took possession of the ball at the visitor’s 18 yard-line. Five plays later, Green ran the ball in from four yards out for his third touchdown of the game. Curtis booted the extra-point and Ardmore led 37-14 with 1:26 left on the clock.
That’s where matters stood when the game ended.
The Tigers continued to show impressive play on both sides of the ball. Green continues his assault on Limestone County rushing records and Barnes put together his best game of the season. The Ardmore defense played well against both the run and the pass and special teams play was also commendable.
Ardmore will need to remain sharp this week. Friday night the Tigers make the short trip south to take on archrival East Limestone in a key regional match up with playoff implications. Kickoff is slated for 7 PM.