By Scott Nickerson
Elmore/Autauga News
Friday night’s game against Chilton County was the classic trap game for Stanhope Elmore High. The Mustangs were better at nearly every position. However, they were coming off a dramatic last second loss at home in a big Class 6A Region 3 game against Pelham, and they had to travel to Clanton to take on a Tigers team playing in their first home game of the 2021 season.
The Mustangs looked flat in the first half. They were unable to run the ball, committed three turnovers, and had numerous penalties. The halftime score was 7-7. Stanhope Elmore came out of the break a different team, and easily pulled away in the 2nd half for a 34-13 victory.
On the first drive of the game, Stanhope Elmore failed to convert a 4th and 1 deep in their own territory. The Mustang defense held Chilton County to a field goal attempt, but the kick was blocked, and Pat Williams picked the ball up and returned it all the way to the Chilton County 4-yard line. Running back Antonio Trone punched it in on the next play to go up by a touchdown.
Both of the Mustangs next two possessions got inside the Chilton County 20-yard line, but both possessions ended without points. Midway through the 2nd quarter, Stanhope Elmore quarterback Jacob Bryant threw his second interception of the night, and the Tigers capitalized on the next play, connecting on a 52-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7.
After two turnovers on down, and two interceptions, the Mustangs failed to score on the final possession of the half when Bryant lost a fumble that was recovered by Chilton County. The halftime score of 7-7 seemed very underwhelming for a talented Mustangs team facing a Chilton County squad.
Orenthal Martin returned the opening kickoff of the 2nd half to Chilton County territory, giving the Mustangs a much-needed spark. The Mustangs moved the ball easily, and Bryant found Israel Baker for a 13-yard touchdown pass to take a one score lead.
The Tigers went three and out on their next possession, and the 4th down snap sailed high over the head of the Chilton County punter. Senior linebacker Fred Bass fell on the ball in the end zone for another Mustangs’ touchdown. The extra point made the score 21-7.
Bass made another big special teams play later in the game, picking up 23-yards and a first down on a fake punt. Trone capped the drive with a 17-yard touchdown a minute into the 4th quarter.
The Mustangs scored their final touchdown of the night on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Bryant to Conner Gregg.
Chilton County scored a touchdown on a 73-yard pass on their first play of the next drive to complete the scoring, with the Mustangs earning a Class 6A Region 3 win by the score of 34-13.
Bryant finished 18-33 for 206 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. At the midway point of the season, Bryant has thrown for 708 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.
Trone finished the game with 19 carries for 74 yards and 2 touchdowns. Halfway through the regular season, Trone has rushed 115 times for 562 yards and 8 touchdowns.
The Mustangs’ defense, especially the front seven, played outstanding against Chilton County. The Tigers knew they were outmatched against the Mustangs dominant defensive front, so they only ran the ball 10 times all night. Of those 10 rushes, only 1 resulted in positive yards, and that was a quarterback run off of a designed pass. The Tigers finished with -18 yards rushing total.
With the win, Stanhope Elmore improved to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in Class 6A Region 3. The Mustangs next three games will be at home, starting with a non-region game next week against the Eufaula Tigers. These Tigers beat the Mustangs twice last season, once in the regular season and again in the 1st round of the Class 6A playoffs. This year, the Tigers are 2-3 on the season, coming off a win by forfeit against Park Crossing.
