The region championship had been secured and it was time for Apalachee High School head football coach Shane Davis to get a bath.
This bath consisted of the water in one of the coolers from the Wildcat sideline. Davis, enjoying the moment as much as anyone, didn’t resist or try to run away. The fifth-year AHS coach was drenched and he loved every second of it.
Such is the case when you’ve just won the first-ever football region title in school history and maintained your perfect undefeated season.
Apalachee High School’s Quincy Gibson scoops up a fumble and returns it for a touchdown against Heritage. - Photo by Jessica Brown
Apalachee wins first region football title
The Wildcats held on for a much closer than expected 24-23 win against visiting Heritage last Friday and in doing so continued its historic season. AHS is now 8-0 and guaranteed of at least two home state playoffs games.
However, it didn’t come easy and Davis wasn’t surprised.
“It got a lot tighter than I expected at the end than I wanted or expected,” Davis said. “However, that’s why you play the game.”
A field goal by Guy Hunt gave the Wildcats a 24-17 advantage in the fourth quarter but Heritage would not go away and marched down the field to pull within a point on a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:51 left.
A mishandled snap on the point-after attempt, however, proved costly for the Patriots as AHS was able to hold onto a 1-point advantage and then run out the remaining time finishing the game inside the Heritage 10-yard line.
The Wildcats quickly took a 14-0 lead on touchdowns by Jon Lee and John Ansley and it appeared AHS would cruise to a win and be able to lock up the Region 8-AAAA crown. However, it didn’t exactly happen that way.
“You have to take your hat off to them,” Davis said. “They did the same thing against Madison County as they kept fighting and battling to the final minutes. They played with a lot of class. We didn’t expect them to come in here and just lay down. They are too well coached for that.”
Using a triple option attack, the Patriots kept the Apalachee defense off balance enough to cause problems.
“It was a fun game to watch, but we have to get refocused and play a little better,” Davis said.
As soon as the final horn sounded Friday night, one AHS fan displayed a sign declaring the Wildcats region champion. Some of the coaches quickly put on Region Champion T-shirts.
The Wildcat players also enjoyed the moment as they were officially 8-AAAA champs.
“It feels great,” said player Tony Hoard. “It took a lot of hard work to get here.”
Lee, who has been a leader for the AHS team all season, was interviewed by several media outlets after the contest.
“I am proud of the team and the coaches,” Lee said. “I knew this game would be tough. I knew they weren’t going to just give it to us. However, we were determined to get the win and take the region championship.”
Two games remain for the Wildcats during the 2009 regular season. AHS will travel to Madison County Friday (see preview on page 1B) and then wrap up the regular campaign Nov. 6 against Salem High School for Senior Night.
The postseason will begin the following week as the Wildcats will host their first-ever state playoff contest at R. Harold Harrison Stadium. The playoffs begin Friday, Nov. 13, for teams across the state.
However, it didn’t come easy and Davis wasn’t surprised.
“It got a lot tighter than I expected at the end than I wanted or expected,” Davis said. “However, that’s why you play the game.”
A field goal by Guy Hunt gave the Wildcats a 24-17 advantage in the fourth quarter but Heritage would not go away and marched down the field to pull within a point on a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:51 left.
A mishandled snap on the point-after attempt, however, proved costly for the Patriots as AHS was able to hold onto a 1-point advantage and then run out the remaining time finishing the game inside the Heritage 10-yard line.
The Wildcats quickly took a 14-0 lead on touchdowns by Jon Lee and John Ansley and it appeared AHS would cruise to a win and be able to lock up the Region 8-AAAA crown. However, it didn’t exactly happen that way.
“You have to take your hat off to them,” Davis said. “They did the same thing against Madison County as they kept fighting and battling to the final minutes. They played with a lot of class. We didn’t expect them to come in here and just lay down. They are too well coached for that.”
Using a triple option attack, the Patriots kept the Apalachee defense off balance enough to cause problems.
“It was a fun game to watch, but we have to get refocused and play a little better,” Davis said.
As soon as the final horn sounded Friday night, one AHS fan displayed a sign declaring the Wildcats region champion. Some of the coaches quickly put on Region Champion T-shirts.
The Wildcat players also enjoyed the moment as they were officially 8-AAAA champs.
“It feels great,” said player Tony Hoard. “It took a lot of hard work to get here.”
Lee, who has been a leader for the AHS team all season, was interviewed by several media outlets after the contest.
“I am proud of the team and the coaches,” Lee said. “I knew this game would be tough. I knew they weren’t going to just give it to us. However, we were determined to get the win and take the region championship.”
Two games remain for the Wildcats during the 2009 regular season. AHS will travel to Madison County Friday (see preview on page 1B) and then wrap up the regular campaign Nov. 6 against Salem High School for Senior Night.
The postseason will begin the following week as the Wildcats will host their first-ever state playoff contest at R. Harold Harrison Stadium. The playoffs begin Friday, Nov. 13, for teams across the state.
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