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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Maplesville High School got back to .500 on the season with a 54-6 thumping of Notasulga High School on the road on Sept. 9.

Jakavion Jackson had a spectacular game running for 263 yards on 11 carries and four touchdowns. That is a 23.9 yards per carry average. With rain expected in the forecast, the game seemed to dodge it for the most part.

“We practiced like it was not going to rain, and it drizzle a bit, but the rain was never a factor in the game,” Maplesville coach Brad Abbott said. “We are a running team, and we were prepared for a game like that if it turned out to be one.”

The Red Devils outgained Notasulga 492-163 despite running six fewer plays. 413 of Maplesville’s yards came via the ground game.

Jackson got on the board for his first score late in the first quarter scampering for a 62-yard touchdown run. A two-point conversion run by Johnathan Wilson made it 8-0.

Wilson doubled the Red Devils lead just before the end of the quarter with a four-yard touchdown run, and Jackson punched in the two-point conversion.

Notasulga got on the board to start the second quarter, but Jackson canceled that score out with his second touchdown the ensuing Maplesville drive. Quarterback Troy McMillan found Jackson for the two-point conversion pass. Wilson capped the stellar first half for the Red Devils with a 46-yard touchdown run to make it 30-6 at halftime.

Wilson rushed for 124 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns.

“This week was probably our best overall game we have played,” Abbott said. “I hope we can keep pushing every week, and keep getting a bit better.”

Notasulga fumbled the ball three times in the game, and Maplesville recovered all three chances they got. Aidan Abbott led the defense with six tackles followed by Bradlee Padgett with five tackles.

Jackson added touchdown runs of 56 and 81 yards in the third quarter to push the Maplesville advantage to 46-6 going into the fourth quarter. Coleman Gill put the finishing touches on the game with a four-yard touchdown and two-point conversion with eight minutes left.

Maplesville went six-for-six on two-point conversion attempts.

Maplesville (2-2) sits atop the AHSAA Class 1A Region 4 standings at 2-0. The Red Devils will host Calhoun High School on Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. for their third region game of the season.