Apalachee High School won its second straight game of the 2011 season this past Friday as they defeated the Bulldogs of Rockdale County High School 34-21.
“We have put in so much hard work, it just feels good to finally get something out of it,” said junior linebacker Chris Morris.
The Wildcat offense found its groove early in the contest and took a commanding 28-0 lead by halftime.
Apalachee (2-4 overall, 2-4 in Region 8-AAAA) came out aggressive on its first drive. On the first play from scrimmage junior quarterback Clint Ashe connected with sophomore Stanley Williams deep down field for a 52-yard completion.
Junior Zay Henry then finished off the short two play drive when he ran in a 17-yard touchdown, putting the Wildcats up 7-0 just 30 seconds into the game.
Henry had a big performance rushing for 81 yards on the night. He continues to be a key component of Apalachee’s dominant running game.
“We have all the confidence in the world in Zay,” said AHS coach Shane Davis. “He hasn’t had the kind of year that he was hoping to but that’s just football. We have a new offensive line up there so we knew it was going to be tough in the beginning, but Zay’s a good football player.”
The host Bulldogs looked to respond on their first drive, moving the football to the Apalachee 40-yard line before coughing it up. Wildcat junior linebacker Chris Morris then scooped up the ball and went the distance for the big score.
“It was a really big play for us,” Davis said. “It was a big momentum swing for us and it put us up 13-0.”
The extra point attempt was blocked so Apalachee had to settle for a 13-0 advantage although the Wildcats now had a two possession lead not only six minutes into the game.
Rockdale then had a three-and-out on its next drive before giving the ball back to AHS.
The Wildcats started on their own 35-yard line and moved the ball efficiently down the field. The 15-play, 65-yard drive was capped off by a two-yard touchdown run from quarterback Clint Ashe. Apalachee decided to mix it up by sending Ashe on a play-action bootleg on 4-and-1.
Henry then rushed in for the two-point conversion that put the Wildcats up 21-0 with 8:08 remaining in the first half.
AHS went on another 65-yard drive the next time it had the ball, although this time the Wildcats finished it up in 10 plays.
Coach Davis called for a fake punt around the Apalachee 44-yard line. Senior Austin Goley was lined up in the back field and took the direct snap and picked up the first down.
Just a few plays later Ashe connected with junior Jermaine Smith for a 30-yard completion that set the Wildcats up at the one-yard line. Junior Eric Tanner then capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown that gave AHS its 28-0 halftime lead.
Ashe had a standout game, going 8-of-14 with 136 yards in the air, in addition 13 yards on the ground with a touchdown.
Smith had 58 yards on four receptions.
The Wildcats dominated on both sides of the ball in the first half.
“We had some big plays and we converted some big third downs which was huge for us,” said coach Davis, “We did shoot ourselves in the foot some in the second half.”
The game got a little more interesting as the second half went on, as AHS had to hunker down and run out the clock to finish the game off late.
The second half started with a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown from Rockdale’s Justin Tavares, giving the Bulldogs some hope of a comeback at the beginning of the half.
The Wildcats did not find the end zone again in the contest, but junior Christian Vasquez knocked in two field goals, one from 23 yards and another from 37.
Rockdale County reached the end zone two more times on the night before Apalachee stepped up and killed the clock.
The Wildcats kicked the football back to Rockdale late in the game but the returner fumbled and senior Jeremy Lotts recovered, sealing the win for the Wildcats.
The Bulldogs attempted the late second half comeback, but they simply could not generate enough offense. The Wildcats held them to under 150 yards total and forced a couple turnovers on the night.
Apalachee’s next contest will be against tough region opponent Clarke Central High School.
“It feels great to get the second win here on the road, and now we have to go to work and try to get that big win against Clare Central,” said Stanley Williams.
Apalachee will host the defending region champions at home this Friday, in a game that could put the Wildcats back into the playoff race. AHS is now 2-4 for the season, both overall on and in Region 8-AAAA. See page 1B in today’s edition for a preview of this Friday’s important region contest against Clarke Central High School. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Friday at AHS.
