By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser
A rivalry dating back to 1934 resumed on Oct. 13 for the 77th time.

However, there may have never been a bigger matchup between the two schools, as the reigning three-time state champion and top-ranked Maplesville Red Devils played host to bitter rival and the fifth-ranked Isabella Mustangs.
Thousands of fans from both schools poured onto the campus of Maplesville High School, it was the hometown Red Devil fans that left happy, as Maplesville extended its winning streak to 29 by knocking off the Mustangs 55-20.
Winning the toss and electing to receive, the Red Devils wasted little time in putting the first points of the night on the board, thanks to a 65-yard touchdown pass from Brent Schoener to Michael Harris and Maplesville took a 7-0 lead.
With the Mustangs forced to punt on its ensuing possession, a fourth and 14 from their own 4 was blocked by Daryl Odom and resulted in a Maplesville touchdown.

With just two and a half minutes removed from the clock, the Mustangs found themselves trailing 14-0.
Another four and out by the Mustangs set the Red Devils up first and 10 at their own 35, where eight plays later an 18-yard run by Michael Harris put the Red Devils out in front 21-0 with 4:33 remaining in the first.
The Mustangs offense kicked things in to gear with their ensuing possession, as Jaqarise Stacy connected with Jordan Campbell for a 16-yard touchdown pass to cut the Maplesville lead to 14.
A pair of scoreless possessions by both teams, saw the Mustangs take over at their own 41, where on first down a handoff to Jarred Campbell hit the turf and was picked up by Timothy Bradley and returned 41 yards for a score.
With 9:04 remaining in the second quarter, Maplesville held a 27-7 lead.
The Isabella offense marched all the way down to the Maplesville 7, but a first and goal handoff once again hit the turf and was be picked up by Nathanial Watson, who left all the others in his dust on the way to a 93-yard touchdown.
The Mustangs answered with a big score of their own with just 31 seconds to play in the half, when Jaqarise Stacy connected with Cornelius Stacy for a 7-yard touchdown reception that made the score 34-14 in favor of Maplesville at the half.
Christin Brown ran for a 2-yard touchdown that brought the score to 41-14 in the second half.

With 1:57 to play, Lance Price put one more in the end zone for the Mustangs, but the ensuing kick off was fielded by Watson and returned 65 yards for a touchdown.
For Coach Hubbert and the Red Devils this game was about more that just the bragging rights.

“There were a lot of reasons for our kids to come out and play hard. We have heard that this or that was the only reason that we could win last year,” Hubbert said. “I think our defense played lights out in the first half and got us two defensive touchdowns and that’s part of football. Our offense played well early and then our specials teams stepped up with the blocked punt and then our offense put up enough points to get the separation and the win.”
Schoener finished the night going seven for 14 with 113 yards and a touchdown, while Morrow led Maplesville’s ground game with 72 yards on 10 carries.

Jaqarise Stacy led the Mustangs with 70 rushing yards to go along with a six of 18 passing performance with 71 yards and two touchdowns.

“We were prepared to win. As good as they are, three time defending state champions, they are good, no doubt, give them a ton of credit. What they do is amazing, but we expected to win,” Isabella head coach Tate Leonard said. “If we wouldn’t have turned the ball over, had the blocked punt, it could have been a war maybe in the fourth quarter, who knows. I said it last year, my plan is to get back to them again in November, they are the best and I want to beat the best, and that’s what we plan on doing.”