Demopolis ground game sputters in quarterfinal loss to St. Paul’s

November 20, 2015 Jeremy D. Smith AHSAA, Alabama, Demopolis, demopolis high school, DHS, football, playoffs, prep sports, St. Paul's, Tigers

Demopolis, Ala. - 11-20-2015 - Demopolis' Logan McVay (5) gets a block from Travares Hall (36) after intercepting a St. Paul's pass. — Demopolis, Ala. – 11-20-2015 – Demopolis’ Logan McVay (5) gets a block from Travares Hall (36) after intercepting a St. Paul’s pass.

Demopolis, Ala. - 11-20-2015 - Demopolis' Travares Hall (36) and A.J. Collier (21) take down a St. Paul's ball carrier. — Demopolis, Ala. – 11-20-2015 – Demopolis’ Travares Hall (36) and A.J. Collier (21) take down a St. Paul’s ball carrier.

Demopolis proved unable to penetrate the St. Paul’s run defense Friday night, amassing only 113 rushing yards en route to a 35-13 loss in the Class 5A quarterfinals.

“They beat us at our game. They controlled the line of scrimmage and pretty much shut us off,” Demopolis coach Stacy Luker said. “We never could find a rhythm offensively, especially in the first half. I think we had 14 snaps at halftime and a big fumble that led to their first touchdown. We lost to a good team, a better team tonight.”

Demopolis, Ala. - 11-20-2015 - Demopolis' Jay Craig rumbles down the sideline near the end of the first half against St. Paul's. — Demopolis, Ala. – 11-20-2015 – Demopolis’ Jay Craig rumbles down the sideline near the end of the first half against St. Paul’s.

The Tigers got a Logan McVay interception on the first drive of the game and appeared poised to match St. Paul’s in a defensive effort. That proved true until a Daniel Beard fumble recovery at the Demopolis 28 set St. Paul’s on a short field. Miller Mosley found James Padgett on a 7-yard touchdown pass to put Demopolis up 7-0.

Bobby Edmonds stretched the lead to 14-0 on a 6-yard run with 4:25 to go in the third.

Demopolis got back in the game on the first play of the fourth quarter when Jay Craig punched it in from 10 yards out with 11:53 to play, cutting the deficit to 14-7.

But a Mosley connection with Padgett for 35 yards moved the ball to the Demopolis 15 and helped Ostin McPherson score from three yards out to cap a 61-yard drive and put the Saints up 21-7.

demopolis, Ala. - 11-20-2015 - Demopolis' A.J. Jackson runs in the open field against St. Paul's. — demopolis, Ala. – 11-20-2015 – Demopolis’ A.J. Jackson runs in the open field against St. Paul’s.

Beard then recovered another fumble at the Demopolis 2, allowing McPherson to punch it in again and stretch the advantage to 28-7.

Ezell hit Demetrius Davis for a 20-yard score with 2:23 remaining in the game for the final Demopolis touchdown of the season. Edmonds slipped through the middle of the defense with 52 seconds left to leave the score at 35-13.

McPheson led all rushers with 118 yards and two scores on 22 carries. Demopolis saw Rahmeel Cook record 11 total tackles in his final game as a Tiger. R.J. Cox had 10 tackles while Marcus Wright finished with eight.

Demopolis ends its first season under Stacy Luker at 10-3.

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