Gators denied trip to Troy, fall 14-7 to Faith Rams
By Ross Wood Sports Editor

Clarke Prep's Tanner Tucker (33) hauls in the lone TD for the Gators as safety Raymond Cotton pursues.

The hopes and dreams of a trip to Troy and playing for a Class AAA state championship came to a halt as the Clarke Prep School Gators lost 14-7 to the visiting Rams of Faith Academy last Friday at Hamilton Field.

The winner of the AISA semi-final game advanced to Troy University's Movie Gallery Stadium to face Bessemer Academy.

In the game the two teams traded possessions before Faith took over at their own 31-yard line. Taking 13 plays to cover the 69-yards the Rams hit paydirt when KeAndre Niles powered in from 4- yards out for the touchdown. Josh Moore kicked the PAT and Faith had a 7-0 lead as the first quarter came to an end.

The Gators took the ensuing possession at their 40-yard line. Four running plays moved the ball to the 26-yard line. Facing fourth-and-seven, quarterback J.D. Powell tossed 26-yard TD pass to wingback Tanner Tucker. Hunter Mayton kicked the PAT, knotting the score at 7-7 with 8:22 left in the half.

Some players from both Faith and Clarke Prep were seperated by coaches and other players after emotions ran high at the end of the game this past week. Photo by Jim Cox

On the kickoff the Faith return man coughed up the ball on Jason Gates' hard hit. Dillion Rowell fell on the loose ball for the Gators at the Faith 35-yard line.

Two plays later a fumble ended the short drive.

The two teams traded punts throughout the rest of the half, but late in the second quarter Faith drove down to the Gator 4-yard line. Clarke Prep's defense turned the Rams away as the half expired.

Faith took the lead for good early in the third quarter when Warren Collier sprang free for a 73-yard touchdown run. Moore's kick increased the lead to 14-7 with 9:25 left in the third quarter.

They attempted to extend the lead later in the frame but Moore's 29-yard field goal came up short after Taylor Becton partially blocked the kick and the game stayed at 14-7.

The Gator offense moved the ball down to the Ram 12-yard line before the drive stalled. Mayton's 29-yard field goal was no good.

Faith took the ball and drove down to the CPS 2-yard line before turning it over on downs.

The Gators took over and, in the clos- ing minutes of the game, moved downfield. Powell hit Tucker with a 13-yard gain, then tossed a 34-yard gain to Chad Dickinson, putting the ball at the Faith 25-yard line.

Faith's Raymond Cotton intercepted the ball in the endzone, sealing the 14-7 win.

Following the pick, there was a bench-clearing scuffle between the two teams, but the ruckus was ended quickly by the coaches from each squad.

Becton led the CPS offense with 40 yards on 12 carries. Brett Bradford added 31 yards on 10 carries. Powell had 20 yards on five carries.

Powell also completed 10-of- 19 passing for 126 yards and a score.

Tucker caught four passes for 45 yards. Dickinson caught two passes for 38 yards. Grant Newton hauled in one pass for 32 yards.

Defensively Powell led the way with 15 stops and two assists. Becton had 13 tackles and two assists. Gates had nine stops caused a fumble. Nichols added five stops, two assists and a sack.

The Gators season ends with a 9-3 record.

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