SEHS Falls to Carver in Thrilling 2-point Game Friday 46-44; Quarterbacks Shine

By Scott Nickerson

Elmore/Autauga News

There was electricity in the air at Foshee-Henderson Stadium Friday night. Carver running back Antonio Trone, a transfer from Stanhope Elmore, returned to his old stomping grounds and the Mustangs’ defense was fired up and ready to face their old teammate. To add to the intensity, University of Florida defensive line coach Sean Spencer and Auburn University Head Coach Bryan Harsin were strolling the sidelines, watching Carver standout defensive linemen James Smith and Jaquavious Russaw.

But for as great as Trone, Russaw, and Smith were, it was Carver quarterback Christian Johnson that stole the show, passing for 288 yards and 5 touchdowns, leading Carver to a 46-44 win. The senior quarterback was a transfer from Parke Heritage High School in Rockville, Indiana, where he passed for 84 touchdowns in three seasons.

Not to be outdone, Stanhope Elmore High quarterback Jacob Bryant had the best game of his career, completing 25 of 41 passes for a whopping 373 yards and 4 touchdowns.

In a game decided by two points, there are always several plays the Mustangs wish they could have back that went a long way in deciding the outcome. The first such play occurred on Carver’s first drive of the game. Carver faced a 4th and Goal from the 17 yard line, but Johnson threw a laser for his first touchdown pass on the night. The Wolverines converted the two-point conversion.

After the Mustangs cut the lead to 8-7 following a 3-yard touchdown run from Davion Thomas, Wolverines quarterback Johnson went deep on the very next play and connected for a 65-yard touchdown.

The Mustangs added a 35-yard field goal on the next drive, to cut the Carver lead to 14-10 heading into the 2nd quarter.

Stanhope Elmore took their first lead of the game at 17-14 early in the 2nd quarter, when Bryant connected with receiver Jackson Thomas on a beautiful fade route from 13-yards out.

Carver answered on the ensuing drive, with Trone scoring from 3-yards away to put the Wolverines up 20-17. Stanhope Elmore marched down the field on the next possession, but a 24-yard game tying field goal attempt was no good after hitting the upright.

Late in the 3rd quarter, Mustang defensive lineman Terry Burke applied pressure when Johnson dropped back to pass. Burke not only blocked the pass, but held on to it, intercepting the pass and returning it 10 yards for a touchdown. The Mustangs went up 24-20, but the lead didn’t last long. Johnson hit Trone for a touchdown pass 30 seconds later to go up 26-24. The Wolverines recovered a Bryant fumble on the next offensive play for the Mustangs, and then Johnson passed for yet another touchdown of the night, this one from 20 yards out, to go ahead 34-24.

In less than a game minute, the Mustangs 4-point lead turned into a Wolverine 10-point lead.

The Mustangs did not hang their heads. Bryant found Josiah Scott for a 45-yard touchdown on the last play of the 3rd quarter and cut the Carver lead to 34-31.

Both quarterbacks continued their hot play, with Johnson throwing a 21-yard touchdown pass for the Wolverines, and Bryant following that with a 13-yard toss to Jackson Thomas, putting the score at 40-38 with less than five minutes remaining.

With under two minutes to go, Johnson passed for a first down when Carver faced a 4th and 7. Trone scored his third touchdown of the game a few plays later, to put the Wolverines ahead 46-38. The two-point conversion failed, giving the Mustangs a chance to tie the game and send it to overtime with a touchdown and two-point conversion.

Bryant connected with Jackson Thomas for a 37-yard touchdown with less than a minute remaining, to cut the lead to 46-44. The Mustangs lined up for the game tying two-point conversion. Bryant rolled to the right and attempted a throwback to the tight end on the left side of the field, but the Mustangs’ receiver was double covered, and the pass fell incomplete, giving the Wolverines a two point victory, 46-44.

Despite the loss, this game was the best Stanhope Elmore has played this season, and gives the fans hope for the rest of the season. The Mustangs are 1-3 overall, and 1-1 in Class 6A Region 2. They will step out of Region play next week to take on Prattville. The Lions are 2-2, but coming off an impressive victory over Opelika.