By Scott Nickerson
Elmore/Autauga News
The Stanhope Elmore High School defense had no answer for the high-powered Prattville Lions offense, and their lightening quick wide receiver Kameran Shanks. Committed to play college ball at Liberty University in South Carolina, Shanks made his presence felt the first time he touched the ball, returning a kickoff for a touchdown and answering Stanhope Elmore’s touchdown on the opening drive of the game. It was the first score of a big night for the Lions as they easily defeated their I-65 rivals, winning 49-10.
A week after knocking off unbeaten and 3rd ranked Opelika, the Lions traveled to Foshee-Henderson stadium and looked like a top team in the state. The 1st quarter was promising however, for the home team, as the Mustangs used ball control to limit Prattville to only six offense snaps the entire quarter. Stanhope Elmore running back Davion Thomas had a 45-yard touchdown run, which was immediately followed by Shanks kickoff return touchdown. The Mustangs were able to pull ahead before the end of the 1st quarter when Jacob Bryant connected on a 24-yard field goal, moving the Mustangs ahead 10-7. It would be their last lead, and points, of the game as Prattville took over and took control.
The Lions started the 2nd quarter with attitude, gashing the Mustangs defense on consecutive rushes of 14 yards, 14 yards, and 23 yards. They followed that up with a short touchdown pass to move ahead 14-10.
The Mustangs offense was unable to pick up a first down on the next drive, losing yardage and having to punt out of their own end zone. Prattville returned the punt to the Stanhope Elmore 23-yard line and struck for a touchdown pass on the very next play. Less than a minute before halftime, Prattville scored again on a 6-yard rushing touchdown. The Lions went into halftime ahead 28-10.
The second half was more of the same. The Lions’ pass rush defense constantly pressured Mustangs quarterback Jacob Bryant, forcing rushed and inaccurate passes. The physicality of the Lions’ rushing attack was too much for the Mustangs front seven, and then Shanks on the outside for the Lions was the fastest and most electric player on the field, catching a 30-yard touchdown reception early in the 3rd quarter.
For the night, the Prattville offense racked up more than 420 yards of total offense, rushing for 268 yards and two touchdowns, along with153 yards passing and 4 touchdowns through the air.
After having the best game of his career against Carver, Mustangs quarterback Jacob Bryant had a tough game, completing 11 – 29 passes for 151 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Lions improve to 3-2 on the year. All five of the remaining games on their schedule are region games, and the Lions will likely need to win four of those five games to make the Class 7A playoffs. They are currently 1-2 in Region play, and will resume region play next week as they travel to Enterprise.
The Mustangs fall to 1-4, but they are 1-1 in Class 6A Region 2. Their next four games are against region opponents. The Mustangs still have a solid chance of making the Class 6A playoffs, and a win next week against Wetumpka will go a long way in helping Stanhope Elmore achieve that goal. The Indians will travel to Foshee-Henderson stadium next Friday night with both teams looking for an important win in Class 6A Region 2.
