By Scott Nickerson, EAN Sportswriter
Photos by Brian Tannehill, Scott Nickerson
The Stanhope Elmore High School Mustangs put together their best game of the year at the midway point of the 2020 season, thoroughly beating Class 6A Region 3 opponent Chilton County in every phase of the game.
From the opening kickoff, the Mustangs played with an intensity borne from the desire to put last week’s loss to Pelham behind them. The defense had the most to make up for. A week after giving up two different 100-yard rushers in the same game, and seeming incapable of stopping the Pelham veer option offense, the Stanhope Elmore defense didn’t allow the Chilton County offense to get anything going. The Tigers were outmatched physically and athletically at every position on the field. Chilton County managed only one first down in the first half, with Stanhope Elmore Division 1 prospects William Whitlow and Caleb Foster leading a defensive line that played most of the game in the Chilton County backfield. Corner back Pat Williams also pulled down an interception in the 1st quarter to snuff out any semblance of a chance the Tigers might have felt early on.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Mustangs have found their identity, putting together an impressive showing for three weeks in a row. Despite scoring four touchdowns last week in the loss at Pelham, the Mustangs missed several opportunities at putting more points on the board. They didn’t miss those opportunities in front of the home crowd against Chilton County, pouring it on the Tigers early and often.
In a sign of things to come, Chilton County received the opening kickoff and failed to get a first down after three plays. On 4th down, the punter kicked an 8-yard punt, and the Mustangs took over with great field position. They only needed two plays to get on the scoreboard. After a 17-yard run by Antonio Trone, Teddy Harris scored from 23-yards out to put the Mustangs up by a touchdown.
With less than a minute left in the 1st quarter, Stanhope Elmore tailback Amaji Truss scored a 13-yard touchdown. The extra point was no good, but the Mustangs led 13-0.
The floodgates opened in the 2nd quarter, with the Mustangs scoring four offensive touchdowns. Teddy Harris started off with a 55-yard rush, and then followed up the next play with a 10-yard touchdown rush. He followed that up with a run for a two-point conversation, moving the Mustangs ahead 21-0.
The next Stanhope Elmore possession ended in points when quarterback Trey Killingsworth found receiver DJ McGhee for a 28-yard touchdown pass. Killingsworth continued the dominant 2nd quarter, rushing for a 14-yard touchdown. With less than a minute before the half, Killingsworth threw his second touchdown pass of the night, a 9-yard pass to Chase Eddings. The Mustangs went into the half ahead 41-0.
Coach Brian Bradford mercifully took out many starters after one drive in the 3rd quarter, and showed good sportsmanship by not running up the score any more than it was. It could have easily been 80-0, it was that kind of night. The only points scored in the 2nd half were on a 65-yard punt return touchdown from Harris.
The final quarter was scoreless, and the Mustangs were content running the clock out with a 47-0 win.
For the night, Killingsworth went 9-13 for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns. He has thrown for 10 touchdown passes in five games this season. Killingsworth also ran for his first touchdown of the season.
The Mustangs had a balanced rushing attack with three different ball carriers. Trone ran the ball 9 times for 70 yards. Truss rushed 8 times for 39 yards and 1 touchdown, and Harris had 5 carries for 99 yards and one touchdown.
Killingsworth also spread the ball around to the different Mustang receivers. Harris had 4 receptions for 40 yards. McGhee had a 28-yard touchdown reception. Eddings hauled in two passes for 30 yards and 1 touchdown, and Jackson Thomas had 2 receptions for 36 yards.
With the win, the Mustangs improve to 3-2 this season, and 2-1 in Class 6A Region 3. They will travel to Eufaula next week for a non-region game, to take on the Class 6A Region 2 Eufaula Tigers. The Tigers are 3-2 this season as well, already owning an impressive victory over Class 7A Central Phenix-City.
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