Demopolis finishes unbeaten Region 3 slate

10-21-16 -- Jemison, Ala. -- Demopolis' Russ Logan (43) and Trey Murdock (46) stop a Jemison return man as Jeremy Jackson (15) forces a fumble on Jemison's initial kickoff reception in Friday night's game in Jemison. Alex Besteder returned the fumble 16 yards for a touchdown. Demopolis beat Jemison, 56-7. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-21-16 — Jemison, Ala. — Demopolis’ Russ Logan (43) and Trey Murdock (46) stop a Jemison return man as Jeremy Jackson (15) forces a fumble on Jemison’s initial kickoff reception in Friday night’s game in Jemison. Alex Besteder returned the fumble 16 yards for a touchdown. Demopolis beat Jemison, 56-7. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

Demopolis (7-2, 6-0) capped off an unbeaten Class 5A, Region 3 slate Friday night with a 56-7 road victory over Jemison.

“I think it means a lot. There are guys who haven’t lost a region game in three years, dating back to Coach (Tom) Causey’s last year. Those juniors, they’ve never lost a region game,” Demopolis coach Stacy Luker said of the accomplishment. “I think it’s important, three in a row. If we’re going to stay in this region, we want to keep dominance and we want to be the team to beat in this region every year.”

10-21-16 -- Jemison, Ala. -- Demopolis' Shakari Williams runs the opening kickoff back for a touchdown in Friday night's game in Jemison. Demopolis beat Jemison, 56-7. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-21-16 — Jemison, Ala. — Demopolis’ Shakari Williams takes the opening play for 63 yards and a touchdown in Friday night’s game in Jemison. Demopolis beat Jemison, 56-7. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

The Tigers wasted no time taking control of the game as Logan McVay popped out from under center and hit Shakari Williams on a screen pass. Williams sprinted 63 yards to put the Tigers up just 16 seconds into the game. On the ensuing kickoff, Jeremy Jackson jarred the ball loose and Alexander Besteder scooped it and ran 16 yards for the fumble return touchdown and the 14-0 lead. McVay stretched the lead to 21-0 on an 8-yard run with 5:51 left in the first quarter.

The Tigers kept the momentum rolling when A.J. Jackson scored from a yard out to cap a nine-play, 67-yard drive and move the advantage to 28-0.

Jemison showed signs of life on its next possession, marching 60 yards on 10 plays before missing an 18-yard field goal. Robert Evans finally got the Panthers on the board with 18 seconds left in the half when he scrambled 12 yards and dove just inside the left pylon to culminate a 67-yard drive that lasted 10 plays and left the halftime advantage at 28-7.

10-21-16 -- Jemison, Ala. -- Demopolis' Tyler Gamble (44) breaks through the defense en route to a touchdown in Friday night's game in Jemison. Demopolis beat Jemison, 56-7. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-21-16 — Jemison, Ala. — Demopolis’ Tyler Gamble (44) breaks through the defense en route to a touchdown in Friday night’s game in Jemison. Demopolis beat Jemison, 56-7. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

“That team looked familiar to you didn’t it? Start out fast, sort of down a little in the second quarter, pick it back up in the second half. We had a big first play to Shakari, a big turnover with the scoop and score by Alexander, two little drives after that,” Luker said. “We asked them to knock them on their back in the first quarter and they did that. I think their offense grinded on us a little bit with some tight splits. (Evans) is a great football player and I warned our kids about that. I thought they could get some first downs and chew some clock up. But I didn’t think we tackled well that last drive in the second quarter. “We responded second half. We challenged them a little bit at halftime because when a team is just grinding on you like that, you lose a little bit of your edge. I liked our response the second half. I thought we stepped up and had more energy about us.”

Demopolis responded to Luker’s challenge in the second half, scoring a 31-yard Antonio Besteder run to push the lead to 35-7. Alexander Besteder then scored 16 seconds later on a 45-yard interception return for touchdown to make it 42-7.

The Tiger reserves added two scores in the fourth quarter on a 43-yard Tyler Gamble run and a 2-yard D’arius Williams sprint.

Demopolis tallied 395 yards of total offense in the contest with 323 of those coming on 35 rushing attempts. A.J. Jackson had 92 yards rushing for the Tigers while Gamble finished with 81.

Demopolis wraps the regular season next week when it hosts Class 7A Auburn.

10-21-16 -- Jemison, Ala. -- Demopolis' A.J. Jackson (4) looks downfield in Friday night's game in Jemison. Demopolis beat Jemison, 56-7. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-21-16 — Jemison, Ala. — Demopolis’ A.J. Jackson (4) looks downfield in Friday night’s game in Jemison. Demopolis beat Jemison, 56-7. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

 

10-21-16 -- Jemison, Ala. -- Demopolis QB Logan McVay (5) tosses the ball to A.J. Besteder (20) in Friday night's game in Jemison. Demopolis beat Jemison, 56-7. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-21-16 — Jemison, Ala. — Demopolis QB Logan McVay (5) tosses the ball to A.J. Besteder (20) in Friday night’s game in Jemison. Demopolis beat Jemison, 56-7. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)