BY SCOTT NICKERSON
ELMORE AUTAUGA NEWS SPORTS
For the second straight home game, Stanhope Elmore High School receiver Jackson Thomas found himself in the open field with the ball in his hands in the final seconds of the game, needing a touchdown to give the Mustangs a victory. After being tackled at the 1-yard line against Pelham two weeks ago, there was no way he was going to be stopped on this night. Facing a 3rd down at their own 30-yard line with less than 30 seconds in the game, and trailing 20-17, Mustang quarterback Jacob Bryant found Thomas 10 yards down field. Thomas did the rest on his own, making a move and then outrunning all Eufaula defenders to the end zone for the game winning score with 9 seconds remaining, giving the Mustangs a 24-20 victory over Eufaula on Homecoming night.
After Homecoming festivities prior to kickoff, the 1st quarter went by quickly. Running back Antonio Trone got the Mustangs on the board with a 3-yard touchdown run five minutes into the 2nd quarter.
On the Mustangs’ next possession, they moved the ball to the Tigers 1-yard line, but lost yards on consecutive plays, so the Mustangs settled for a 27-yard field goal from kicker Andrew Wilson. The Mustangs led 10-0.
The Stanhope Elmore defense, led by defensive lineman Caleb Foster who made 12 tackles, continued to put the clamps down on the Eufaua offense. However, the Mustangs then made the first of several blunders that led to points for the Tigers. Eufaula punted the ball and it rolled inside the Mustangs’ 20-yard line. With the coaches yelling for the team to get away from the ball, one Mustang player attempted to make a big play and pick the ball up. Unfortunately, he fumbled the ball and the Tigers recovered 16-yards away from the end zone.
The Mustang defense again held firm, holding Eufaula to a field goal. The Mustangs led at halftime, 10-3.
The Mustangs added to their lead halfway through the 3rd quarter after Trone scored a 5-yard touchdown run. It was set up by a 9-yard run by Trone on 4th and 1 near midfield, and a 22-yard reception by Thomas. The Mustangs led 17-3. It appeared the Mustangs were going to coast to an easy win on Homecoming.
Eufaula had other plans. The Mustangs made their second big blunder of the game when they gave up a long return on the ensuing kickoff. The Tigers returner was tackled on the 5-yard line, but they were able to convert it into a touchdown on a 4th and goal. The Stanhope Elmore lead was trimmed to 17-10.
The next Stanhope Elmore mistake came on the following drive, and it again led to points for the Tigers. A Mustang pass was tipped by a receiver, and a Eufaula defender made a diving interception near the Stanhope Elmore 30-yard line. A few plays later, Eufaula completed the drive with a 2-yard touchdown. The score was tied at 17 one minute into the 4th quarter, and Eufaula only had 99-yards of total offense.
Eufaula was finally able to put together a decent drive late in the game, and the Tigers kicked an 18-yard field goal with 52 seconds left to take a 20-17 lead.
The Mustangs started the final possession on the 15-yard line. The first play appeared to be an interception, which would have ended the game. However, the Tigers defender came down out of bounds. After a couple completions, Bryant found Thomas for the game clinching touchdown reception.
For the night, Thomas finished with 7 receptions for 164 yards and 1 touchdown.
Bryant completed 9-21 passes for 183 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.
Trone rushed 33 times for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Mustangs move to 4-2 on the season. They will host Calera next week in a Class 6A Region 3 game. The Eagles are 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in Region 3, with a loss to Pelham and win over Chilton County.
Editor’s Note: Prior to the game, a moment of silence was held in honor of Eufaula’s assistant Coach Duane Mock who passed away Thursday. Our sincere condolences go out to the Eufaula community and Mock’s family. See a story from the Dothan Eagle concerning Mock’s Death here – https://dothaneagle.com/sports/high-school/eufaula-mourns-the-loss-of-football-assistant-duane-mock/article_7fc4faec-1d87-11ec-b4fa-a7f4efdf480e.html
