Get News Updates RSS RSS Feed
General
Dining & Entertainment
Home
Religion
Automotive
Health
Sports November 8, 2007
Search Archives

Gators take care of business against Pike Liberal 57-20
By Ross Wood Sports Editor

Taylor Becton (30), J.D. Powell (7) and Tanner Tucker (33) stop a Patriot runner in his tracks last Friday night.
The Clarke Prep School Gators took care of business this past Friday night as they dispatched the Patriots of Pike Liberal Arts 57-20 at Hamilton Field in the first round of the AISA Class AAA playoffs.

The Gators scored on all nine possessions they had in the contest as they completely overpowered the team from Troy.

Jason Gates recovered a PLA fumble at the CPS 37-yard line, after the Patriots had one play on their first drive.

Clarke Prep's offense needed just six plays to hit paydirt, aided by a 41-yard burst from Brett Bradford, as quarterback J.D. Powell capped the drive with a 3-yard keeper.

The attempt sailed wide but the Gators had a 6-0 lead with 8:44 left in the first period.

After forcing the Patriots to turn the ball over on downs the Gator offense got the ball back at the PLA 38-yard line.

Powell flipped a 14-yard pass to Chad Dickinson for the touchdown. The try for two came up short as CPS took a 12- 0 lead with 3:39 left in the stanza.

The Patriots answered as they drove 66-yards in 10 plays with Jerel Foster diving in from 2- yards out to cap the drive. The kick sailed wide left, but Pike Liberal had cut the lead in half 12-6 with 10:51 left before halftime.

It took just three plays for the Gators to make up the points as Taylor Becton sprang free for a 54-yard touchdown. Hunter Mayton kicked the PAT and CPS had a 19-6 lead with 9:35 left in the second quarter.

The Patriots tried to get back into the contest but their potential scoring drive was halted at the CPS 14-yard line when Chad Dickinson recovered a PLA fumble.

From there Clarke Prep took to the air as Powell connected with Becton for 30-yards, Dickinson for 10-yards and Tanner Tucker for 24-yards. The drive stalled at the 14-yard line when Mayton was called on to convert the 31-yard field goal, making it 22-6 to close out the first half's scoring.

Clarke Prep had the first possession of the second quarter. On the second play Bradford found daylight and raced 56- yards for the Gator touchdown. Mayton made the point-after try, increasing the lead to 29-6 with 11:05 to play in the period.

The following Patriot possession came to an end when Dickinson intercepted a pass at the Gator 20-yard line.

Near midfield Powell tossed a screen pass to Becton who raced 46-yards for the next CPS score. Mayton was true with his kick and the Gators led 36-6 with 5:03 left in the third quarter.

The Patriots answered the touchdown when Foster scored on a 3-yard run. Foster also ran in the 2-point conversion making it 36-14.

As the period came to a close CPS increased their lead when Bradford powered in from 3- yards out and Mayton kicked the PAT, making it 43-14.

On the ensuing kickoff PLA fumbled and Austin Lee Crawford cradled the loose pigskin at the 39-yard line.

After Powell hit Dickinson with a 33-yard completion, Becton capped the drive with a 3-yard run. Powell ran for the 2- point conversion, increasing the lead to 51-14 with 11:32 left in the game.

Randy Nichols closed out the scoring for the Gators with a 6- yard run with 3:28 left in the game. The attempt failed, leaving the score at 57-14.

On the game's final play Foster found the endzone with a 2- yard TD, making the final score 57-20 in favor of Clarke Prep.

Becton led all rushers with 171 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 81 yards and a score. Bradford had 143 yards on 11 carries and two scores. Nichols added 45 yards on four carries with a TD.

Powell was 7-of-8 passing for 178 yards and two touchdowns.

Dickinson caught three passes for 57 yards and a score. Tucker caught two passes for 40 yards.

Foster paced the Patriot offense with 118 yards on 25 carries and three scores.

The Gators (9-2) now advance to the semi-finals of the playoffs this week as they host the Rams of Faith Academy (8-3). Faith beat Glenwood 27-18 last week.

It is a rematch of the second week of the season in a game that the Gators won 43-35.

Game time at Hamilton Field is 7 p.m.
Reader Comments
No comments have been posted. Be the first!


Other Stories With Comments:
ArticleComments
Grove Hill couple celebrates 60th wedding anniversary 3
Crimson Tide's B. J. Stabler to receive BA degree Saturday 1
Naval base building named for C'ville native 1
Alston to celebrate 103rd birthday July 6 1
Godbold-Fleming marry in British Virgin Islands 1
Longtime county lawman retiring 1
CCHS releases honor rolls for third nine weeks 1
Bulldogs christen new field with DH sweep 1
Johnny Estis still going strong at 80, repairing broken TVs, other electronics 1
A Christmas present for CCHS students 1


Click ads below
for larger version