Feels so good
- Updated: September 4, 2021
Weaver scores two second-half touchdowns to beat Glencoe and snap its 21-game losing streak; includes other games around the area
FRIDAY’S AREA SCORES
Alexandria 45, Center Point 22
Anniston 22, Jacksonville 9
Cleburne County 20, White Plains 3
Handley 40, Munford 10
Hokes Bluff 41, Pleasant Valley 0
Ohatchee 36, Wellborn 15
Oxford 24, Scottsboro 7
Piedmont 28, Saks 12
Victory Christian 28, Donoho 7
Weaver 20, Glencoe 7
By East Alabama Sports Today
WEAVER – Gary Atchley never felt better about being so cold and wet in his life. And he can’t wait to feel that way again.
Two games into Atchley’s tenure as head coach, Weaver snapped a 21-game losing streak Friday night with a 20-7 region victory over Glencoe. It was the Bearcats’ first victory since Nov. 2, 2018.
Of course, it came with the traditional water-bucket dousing – three of them.
“The one with the ice in it hurt,” Atchley said. “But I will gladly take an ice bath every Friday night if it means feeling the way we felt tonight.
“I was so excited for everybody. It’s been a long two years for a lot of people and we needed something good to happen.”
The Bearcats almost ended the losing streak against the Yellow Jackets last year, opening an early 20-0 lead only to fall 28-20.
They fell behind Friday 7-0, but Jayden Sturkie cut all the way back across the field on a jet sweep to tie the game 7-7.
The Bearcats, who changed their offense during the open week following their season-opening loss, scored two touchdowns in the second half to pull away. Jeffrey Miles caught a touchdown pass from ninth-grade quarterback Caden Goodson and Jackson Williams gave them some insurance with a long touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Atchley admitted he wanted his players to taste victory so badly he probably stayed in attack mode with his play-calling too much. But it also allowed the Bearcats to bring the game to their opponent instead of the opponent bringing it to them.
“I kind of Frankenstein-ed an offense, took formations from here, took formations from there and added to where it helped the personnel I have,” he said. “We call it ‘Bear’ and ‘Twin’. I guess it should be the Frankenstein play.”
Atchley’s hire brought a new outlook to the program. He joked during the county’s preseason media day when the Bearcats finally broke out of their funk they’d celebrate with a parade.
OK, coach, now that it’s happened, where and when?
“They started tonight in the locker room; I’ve got to figure where to take it to,” he said. “It was crazy. Awesome. The locker room was so much fun after the game.
“This win was so much more than just about me and the players. It meant a lot to this community. I told these guys the fans were going to give you another chance and they showed up tonight and they saw a team getting after somebody’s tail. It was just special. It was a special night tonight.”
The Bearcats will go for their first two-game winning streak since a three-game streak at the end of the 2018 regular season next week at Pleasant Valley to open a four-game road stretch.
Greg Warren contributed to this report.
ALEXANDRIA 45, CENTER POINT 22: Antonio Ross rushed for 114 yards and three touchdowns and caught two passes for 44 yards and another score to lead the Valley Cubs’ offense. Jake Upton followed his big opening game with 68 yards rushing and to second-quarter scores.
Ross scored three touchdowns in the first half to help the Cubs buld a 38-0 lead and he scored their last touchdown of the game midway through the third quarter. He also had seven tackles on defense.
| Center Point | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 – | 22 |
| Alexandria | 14 | 24 | 7 | 0 – | 45 |
A – Antonio Ross 10 run (Cleat Forrest kick), 8:11 1Q
A – Antonio Ross 30 pass from Ryan Smith (Cleat Forrest kick), 3:43 1Q
A – Jake Upton 15 run (Cleat Forrest kick), 9:15 2Q
A – Antonio Ross 15 run (Cleat Forrest kick), 5:54 2Q
A – Jake Upton 17 run (Cleat Forrest kick), 4:43 2Q
A – Cleat Forrest 28 FG, 0:00 2Q
A – Antonio Ross 43 run (Cleat Forrest kick), 8:41 3Q
C – Troy Bruce 30 run (Therman Moore run), 11:40 4Q
C— Jabari Collier 51 run (Jabari Collier run), 5:35 4Q
C – Troy Bruce 13 run (PAT failed), 3:45 4Q
| CP (22) | Alex (45) | |
| 40-259 | Rushing | 37-234 |
| 9-18-1 | C-A-I | 4-15-1 |
| 77 | Passing | 79 |
| 8-84 | Penalties | 6-45 |
ANNISTON 22, JACKSONVILLE 9: Kam Sandler ran for one touchdown and threw two 40-yard touchdown passes to Antonio Kite as the Bulldogs knocked off another of the teams that beat them during last year’s 0-5 start.
They are 3-0 for the first time since 2009, when they won their first four games of the season.
Sandlin connected with Kite on a 43-yard touchdown to open the scoring three minutes into the game. He threw a 40-yarder to the Alabama commitment in the fourth quarter. He ran six yards for a score in the second quarter to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead.
The Golden Eagles were playing without injured starting quarterback Jim Ogle. They were held to 112 yards of offense by the Bulldogs.
Jacksonville has lost back-to-back games on the field for the first time since 2017, when they started the season 0-3. They followed it with an eight-game winning streak.
| Jacksonville | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 — | 9 |
| Anniston | 8 | 6 | 0 | 8 — | 22 |
A: Antonio Kite 43 pass from Kam Sandlin (Jaylon Cunningham run), 9:05 1Q
A: Kam Sandlin 6 run (run failed), 4:01 2Q
J: Mason Terrell 47 FG, 0:57 2Q
J: Jacoby Zackery 2 run (run failed), 3:49 3Q
A: Antonio Kite 40 pass from Kam Sandlin (Stefon Traylor fumble recovery), 7:41 4Q
CLEBURNE COUNTY 20, WHITE PLAINS 3: Quarterback Kyler McGrinn accounted for 151 yards and Tae Cantrell rushed for 100 as the Tigers moved to 3-0 for the first time since 2007.
Their three wins already match their win total from last season. They’ve outscored their opponents 106-44. They scored only 68 points all of last season.
McGrinn, a sophomore, completed 8 of 16 passes for 92 yards and rushed for 59 yards on 20 carries.
Dee Prothro led the defense with seven solo tackles, including two sacks. Jalen Groce had a 45-yard interception return.
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