Easy night on MHS homecoming
Published 12:14 am Saturday, September 23, 2017
By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser
For the second consecutive week the Maplesville starters were given the night off early, as the Red Devils jumped out to a 42-0 lead in the first quarter, on their way to a blowout 63-0 homecoming win over the Ellwood Christian Eagles.
Just two plays into the game, the Red Devils found the end zone for the first of many times on the evening, as Ryan Morrow broke a 31-yard touchdown run and with Tristen Thetford adding the PAT, Maplesville took an early 7-0 lead.
The ensuing Eagles possession saw the first of many turnovers for Ellwood, as a third and 20 pass attempt fell into the hands of Chaz Morris and set the Red Devils up near midfield, where two plays later quarterback Brent Schoener connected with Michael Harris for a 55-yard touchdown pass to put Maplesville up 14-0.
The turnover theme continued for the Eagles on their next two drives, as both possessions ended on a pick six, first by Timothy Bradley and then by Nathaniel Watson.
With 5:50 remaining in the first, the Red Devils held a commanding 28-0 lead.
The interception theme continued on the next Ellwood possession, as Watson hauled in a second interception and returned the pick 41 yards for yet another pick six for the Red Devils to put Maplesville up 35-0.
A muffed kickoff by the Eagles on the ensuing kick would set Maplesville up at the 30 yard line where on the first play of the possession, Christin Brown went 30 yards for another Red Devil touchdown.
The first punt of the game came with just 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter , ut the ensuing 32-yard drive by the Red Devils ended on a 2-yard Latrell Wilson touchdown to give Maplesville a 49-0 at the half.
A running clock in the second half did little to slow down the Red Devils, as their opening drive of the half would ended much the same way as the first, as Jackson Abbott added another Maplesville touchdown to make the score 56-0.
With six minutes remaining in the game, Caleb Hobbs brought the game to its final score of 63-0 with a 5-yard touchdown reception to send the homecoming crowd home with an easy win for the home team.
For consecutive weeks the Red Devils have finished Friday night with an easy win, but for coach Brent Hubbert there is always something to gain.
“We worked on special teams and left our kick off squad in tonight and we moved some guys around on defense for prepare for some things we may have to do down the stretch, Hubbert said. “We can create a little depth as well by seeing some of these young guys play.”
The Red Devils will play host to the Dallas County hornets on Sept. 29 in a rivalry game that is not lost on the Maplesville head coach.
“We better prepare,” Hubbert said. “You play a 5A team and you better be prepared to play, but its good for us to get tested.”