Scott Nickerson
Elmore Autauga News
With a minute left in the game and the score tied at 28, Stanhope Elmore had the ball at the Wetumpka 35-yard line when SEHS quarterback Davis Foshee found sophomore Joseph Griffin for a huge 27-yard gain. The very next play, running back Dee Barnes rushed in a touchdown to put the Mustangs ahead 35-28 with 41 seconds remaining. The Mustangs were able to hold on as Stanhope Elmore defeated Wetumpka on the Indians’ homecoming, and clinched the #3 seed in Class 6A Region 2.
“It helps re-establish what the standard at SE should be,” said Stanhope Elmore Head Coach Hunter Adams. “A rivalry win in front of a big crowd with playoff implications is what high school football is all about, glad the kids got to experience that feeling.”
In a game that featured five lead changes, the Mustangs got on the board first with a 6 yard touchdown run from Barnes. The lead held until late in the 2nd quarter when Wetumpka quarterback Charlie Skipper threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to John Hudson Wingard. With the Mustangs trying to score just before the half, the Indians picked up a Mustang fumble and returned the ball inside the Stanhope Elmore 10-yard line. The next play, the Indians scored and took a 14-7 lead into the half.
The Mustangs stole the momentum back on the first play of the 3rd quarterback when Zach Goodson intercepted a Wetumpka pass and returned it for a touchdown to tie the game at 14.
On the Mustangs’ next possession, Barnes busted through for a 41-yard rush. Stanhope Elmore followed that up with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Foshee to Griffin to go ahead 21-14. The lead was short lived though, as the Indians struck back less than two minutes later, scoring on a touchdown pass from Skipper to wideout Kaleb Ballard.
The Indians moved ahead early in the 4th quarter with another touchdown pass from Skipper, but the Mustangs answered with a Barnes touchdown rush to tie the game at 28 with 4 minutes left.
With the Indians driving for the game winning score, the Mustangs’ Goodson made his second interception of the night, and returned the ball to the Wetumpka 47-yard line to set up the final scoring sequence.
Foshee, the grandson of legendary SEHS Coach Jimmy Foshee who passed away earlier this year, was a standout in the biggest game of his career, passing for 170 yards and 1 touchdown.
“Davis Foshee is a leader, and the kind of field general you want,” said Coach Adams. “He makes us two dimensional and much more efficient on offense.”
The Mustangs’ powerful running back, Dee Barnes, rushed for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Barnes now has 1680 yards and 27 touchdowns on the season. The junior needs 1 touchdown in the regular season finale to tie the school’s single season record, and 2 touchdowns to break the record.
“Dee runs relentlessly! Never goes down on first contact. He turns 1 yard runs into 5 yard runs and keeps the chains moving, then when he does get a crease of any kind he makes an explosive play,” said Adams. “Played 7 guys on the OL, they fought hard all night against a crowded box and kept the chains moving all night long. Having a leader like Macin James in there is invaluable.”
The Mustangs move to 6-3 with the win. They will play their regular season finale next Thursday night at home against Calera.
“We want to finish the regular season strong, stay undefeated at home, and keep our momentum going into the playoffs. Calera is a very dangerous offensive team, going to have to play very disciplined defensive football,” said Coach Adams.
