SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The Sylacauga Aggies followed the lead of star running back Alex Thomason, who once again gained more than 200-yards in a game for a 40 to 14 win over region rival Talladega.
The Aggies opened their Homecoming contest with a 14-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard Riley Keith field goal for a 3-0 lead. They never trailed again.
The visiting Tigers managed a few big plays before the Aggie defense force them to turn the ball over on downs just shy of the Sylacauga red zone. Alex Thomason led the way on a 9-play, 74-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 6-yard Thomason run for a 10-0 lead.
Set up by a 40-yard run from Jer’Montez Cunningham, the Tigers answered with third-down, 10-yard touchdown pass from Ashton Duncan to D’Jaunte Dickerson to climb within three at 10-7.
A great kick-off return gave Sylacauga a short field and four plays later Thomason had his second score of the night on another 6-yard run. Following a three-and-out from the Aggie defense, Sylacauga marched 53 yards on an eight-play drive that earned Thomason his third score of the night with a minute to play in the first half.
Sylacauga went to the locker room with a 24-7 lead. Thomason had already registered 164 yards on 21 carries.
Talladega opened the second half with a big play – a 45-yard pass that saw Duncan hook up with JeQuerius Wilson before the Sylacauga defense put on the breaks and forced the Tigers to turn the ball over on downs again at the Aggie 30.
After forcing a three-and-out from Sylacauga, the Tigers threatened again until Sam McGrady recovered a Cunningham fumble. Sylacauga essentially put the game on ice with a drive that ended with another Thomason touchdown, this time from ten yards out.
After a night of harassing Talladega’s quarterback, DeVonte Green sacked Duncan in the endzone for a safety to extend the lead to 33-7.
Following a return deep into Tiger territory, it appeared as though back-up Daylon Keith had scored on the first play of Sylacauga’s next possession, but he was ruled down just inside the one. On the next play, he lost the snap. By the time the dust settled Talladega had scored on a 99-yard fumble return.
Keith made up for his earlier miscue when he found Rusty Craft on an 11-yard pass play to finish the scoring for the night.
Thomason finished with 201 yards on 28 carries. Tashun Looney added 35-yards on six carries. Jackson Walker picked up 19 yards on six carries and added another 25 yards through the air, completing 3 of 5 passes.
The Aggies (5-1, 2-1) travel to face Valley next week.
Tom Roberts for SylacaugaNews.com | © 2016, SylacaugaNews.com/Marble City Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
