West Morgan Football

Scores of Interest

COURTLAND — Football players are trained not to think in what-ifs. Win or lose, file it away and go on to the next Friday night.
But if Addison hadn't been able to hold the lead after its offense turned frosty late in Friday night's 7-6 win over R.A. Hubbard, all that confidence that last year's 1A state title concocted could have at least given way to some doubt.
"Of course," senior tailback Blake Turner said. "Losing two in a row would've hurt. This wasn't a region game or anything, but it's still a big game for the team."
Addison scored early and held on to beat a R.A. Hubbard squad that fumbled six times, losing two of them with less than five minutes left in the game, and was penalized eight times for 59 yards.
Losing isn't common at Addison, which won 14 of 15 games last year en route to the 1A state title. But uncertainty surrounded the school's move to 2A and its first game at that level, against defending class champions Clay County in the Champions Challenge in Montgomery, ended in a 41-6 rout. It won't officially count in its record, but the 35-point loss is hard to forget.
Enter Friday night's result.
Coach Randy White wasn't pleased with his team's offensive performance, particularly in the second half, where it gained 42 yards and had one first down — on the first play of the half.
"Our defense was the difference tonight," White said. "R.A. Hubbard's got a good football team, but they made a lot of mistakes, and we kept them off the big play. That's what I was worried about coming up here."
Losing also isn't common in Courtland. But R.A. Hubbard slipped to a 6-6 record last year, and coach Lymos McDonald warns the same could happen if his Chiefs continue to make costly mistakes.
"We played well, well enough to win," McDonald said, his voice rising. "But it seemed like every time we'd get a 10-yard play we've get a flag. There's no way you can win like that at any level."
McDonald's right. Hubbard had its chances. After Corey Key took the opening kickoff of the half 34 yards to midfield, the Chiefs drove to the Addison 25. Xavier Hampton broke loose on a run toward the goal line, but it was called back on a penalty. On a fourth-and-3 from the 26, Key was tackled behind the line by Turner.
The Chiefs, trailing by a point, got the ball at the Addison 27 with 5:34 left in the fourth quarter after a shanked punt from Jake Gilliland. But Hampton fumbled three plays later and Turner, playing linebacker, fell on it.
R.A. Hubbard's last chance came after Addison went three-and-out and punted with two minutes left. Hampton picked up a wobbling punt about his own 40, but Turner hit him to knock the ball loose and Jason Gann recovered it for the Bulldogs, sealing the win. "I just saw it and started racing toward it, and there it was," Gann said.
Addison's score came with 2:31 left in the first quarter on a fourth-and-6 from the R.A. Hubbard 12. Quarterback Gilliland faked a pitch and lobbed a pass over the line to Andrew Privett, who was alone in the end zone. Jason Fowler added the extra point. R.A. Hubbard looked to have tied the game in the second quarter when LaBrandon Key ran into the end zone from a yard out, but Dontay Robinson missed the extra point wide left.
"If we play ball and we execute, we win this ballgame," McDonald said.

posted by Coach Shaw @ 11:36 AM