Mad Peoples’ skills
- Updated: October 15, 2016
Oxford sophomore QB scores three different ways to help the Yellow Jackets blast Pell City and win their first region title since 2011
Here’s a montage of all the ways Abe Peoples scored touchdowns for Oxford Friday night — running, passing, receiving. (Photos by Kristen Stringer/Krisp Pics Photography)
By Brant Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today
PELL CITY — Before a full moon and capacity crowd at Pete Rich Stadium Friday night, the third-ranked Oxford Yellow Jackets put the cap on a Class 6A, Region 7 championship with a 37-3 win.
The Yellow Jackets (9-0) put together a dominating first-half performance from start to finish. A smothering defense held the Panthers to just 22 offensive plays and forced four of Pell City’s seven fumbles in the game with hard hits.
Oxford’s Jack Peavey returned the opening kickoff 63 yards and the Yellow Jackets got a 30-yard Keaton Borrelli field goal at 9:03 to open the scoring. The Jackets had Brody Syer’s scoop-and-score called back by a penalty and they missed a field goal, but weren’t hurt by it and never lost the lead.
The Oxford defense came up big again as Cross Davis recovered another Pell City fumble at the 22. This time the Yellow Jackets got a touchdown on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Abe Peoples to Connor Syer.
People had a big night. In addition to his touchdown pass, the sophomore also scored on two runs (14 and 69 yards) and a 52-yard pass from Jack Peavey.
“It was crazy,” Peoples said. “I’ve never had anything like that. I’ve had a few games where I had rushing touchdowns and passing, but I never had a receiving touchdown before. It’s pretty cool being able to say I played a football game where I had a receiving touchdown, a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown.”
The Catch came late in the first half when Peavey took a toss from Peoples and threw it back to his quarterback, who scampered down the Oxford sideline for the score.
“That’s the first time they ever threw to me,” Peoples said. “(Peavey) just put it right on the money and I caught it, made a few guys miss and got in the end zone.”
A fourth Panther fumble gave Oxford another chance for a score in the first half, but a fake field goal try went awry and the Jackets went into the half up 23-0.
A 44-yard touchdown run from Tyetus Smith-Lindsey early in the third quarter put the game away. Smith-Lindsey rushed for 135 yards on 25 carries.
But the Jackets weren’t finished. Peoples exploded for a 69-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 37-3 after a Pell City field goal in the third quarter.
Peoples rushed for 115 yards on 10 carries and passed for 80 more yards.
“He has done a great job even as a sophomore,” Oxford coach Ryan Herring said. “He makes good plays and does not get us beat – and he keeps getting better each week.”
The Jackets head into their last regular-season game in a much-improved position over last year even with a very youthful team; they were 3-7 a year ago. Some of the keys to the turnaround have been quarterback play, the offensive line, some coaching additions and a defense anchored by senior SEC prospect linebacker Kenney Britt Jr. That was evident on Friday night.
“The offensive line has done a much better job of blocking this year and has opened some holes for our backs,” Herring said.
The maturity of the young offensive line improved towards the end of last season and it’s growing stronger each week in 2016. They physically dominated Pell City Friday night.
Former head coaches from Glencoe (Lee Ozmint) and Madison County (Scott Peavey) joined the Oxford staff in the offseason and have been a big boost. “They have brought a great deal of attitude and have been great motivators to this football team that we needed,” said Herring.
Of course the defense has been formidable, allowing 13 points a game and led by Britt. They held the Panthers out of the end zone and to only 242 total yards. They have beaten Pell City in 10 of the last 11 games.
The region title was Oxford’s first since 2011 and only their third since 1997.
“It’s a great feeling coming from a 3-7 record last year,” Peoples said. “We’ve all worked so hard and got to where we’re 9-0 and region champs now. It’s been pretty incredible.”
The Yellow Jackets will take off next week and then close out the season in Oxford against 5A Sumter Central (1-7). Pell City travels to play Fort Payne in a region game.
Oxford 37, Pell City 3
Oxford 3 20 14 0 — 37
Pell City 0 0 3 0 — 3
Ox — Keaton Borelli 30 FG, 9:03 1Q
Ox – Connor Syer 9 pass from Abe Peoples (kick failed), 11:53 2Q
Ox — Abe Peoples 14 run (Keaton Borelli kick), 5:17 2Q
Ox – Abe Peoples 52 pass from Jack Peavey (Keaton Borelli kick), 1:00 2Q
Ox — Tyetus Smith-Lindsey 44 run (Keaton Borelli kick), 6:10 3Q
PC — Sergio Alvarez 37 FG, 4:03 3Q
Ox — Abe Peoples 69 run (Keaton Borelli kick), 1:03 3Q
Team stats Oxf PC
First Downs 17 13
Rushes-yds 42-263 29-81
Passes 5-10-0 8-22-0
Passing yds 132 161
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 7-5
Penalties-yds 12-85 4-40
Clay Webb (75) anchors an offensive line that helped Oxford gain nearly 400 yards of total offense Friday night. (Photo by Kristen Stringer/Krisp Pics Photography)
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