Tigers ransack Generals
The Randolph County Tigers did the right things at the right times Friday night.
That execution netted the Tigers a 52-6 region win over the Horseshoe Bend Generals in Wedowee.
“We executed better than we did a week earlier,” Randolph County head coach Randy Sparks said. “The offensive line gave Ty (Sparks, quarterback) time to throw. Ty was throwing the ball well and our receivers were catching them.”
On the defensive side, the Tigers held the normally dangerous Horseshoe Bend running game to only 39 yards.
“Coach Prestridge had a really good defensive plan,” Sparks said. “The fact Horseshoe Bend had 39 rushing yards and six points backs me up on that. Coach Wylie did a great job with the secondary with five interceptions.”
Besides being able to move the ball with relative ease, Randolph County had some help from Horseshoe Bend turnovers. The Generals lost two fumbles and threw five interceptions on the night.
Randolph County’s first score came on a 2-yard run from Sparks with 10:41 left in the first quarter. Austin Macginnis was good on the extra point.
Then with 5:48 left in the first quarter, Sparks found an open Willis Knight for a 30-yard touchdown pass. Macginnis’s extra point made it 14-0.
Sparks was 12-of-17 passing for 229 yards, no interceptions and two touchdowns.
With time expiring in the first quarter, Macginnis added more points to the Tigers’ tally with a 35-yard field goal to make the score 17-0.
Randolph County running back Rico Nelson continued the scoring party with a 2-yard touchdown run with 8:50 left in the second quarter. The point after was good.
Nelson led the team in rushing with 51 yards on 12 carries while Tay Childs had 24 yards on three carries.
Sparks added another touchdown on a 1-yard run with 0:38 left in the second quarter. Macginnis’s extra point made the score 31-0 at the half.
Horseshoe Bend finally got on the board with a 13-yard touchdown pass with 7:18 left in the third quarter. The point after was no good.
With 4:10 left in the third quarter, Sparks connected with Knight once again for a 24-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was good.
Knight led the receivers with four catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s learning to break tackles and make plays,” Sparks said. “I like to see that.”
Dontae Barrett had three catches for 47 yards and Brad Benefield had three catches for 48 yards.
The Tiger defense contributed to the scoring late in the third quarter when defensive end Nate Boyd intercepted a pass and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown. Macginnis’s kick made it 45-6.
Finally, Colton Lovvorn finished the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run with 8:00 left in the fourth quarter. The point after was good to make the final 52-6.
“Most everything we did went right,” Sparks said. “Horseshoe Bend is a formidable opponent.”
This week, the Tigers will face a true test as they travel to Reeltown to square off against the Rebels. Both teams are 2-0 in region play.
“We expect a lot of speed,” Sparks said. “Their number three (Tywone Stewart) is a very good running back and number 23 (Ardarius Kelley) is an exceptional ball carrier. On defense, their team speed and aggressiveness toward the ball concerns me more than anything.”
Sparks said Randolph County will have to play a solid game to come away with a win in Reeltown.
“The fact we have to go to their place with the tradition they have is a tough task for us,” Sparks said. “We’ve got to play great defense against the run. Obviously, we’re not going to stop them, but we have to limit them and stop big plays. We’ve got to find a way to move the ball and find a way to get into the end zone.”
