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Demopolis runs away from Greensboro late

Jeremy D. Smith , , , , , , ,
8-26-2016 -- Demopolis, Ala. -- Demopolis RB A.J. Jackson looks for running room in the fourth quarter against Greensboro High School.
8-26-2016 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis RB A.J. Jackson looks for running room in the fourth quarter against Greensboro High School.
8-26-2016 -- Demopolis, Ala. -- Demopolis QB Logan McVay crosses the goal line for a touchdown in the second quarter against Greensboro High School.
8-26-2016 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis QB Logan McVay crosses the goal line for a touchdown in the second quarter against Greensboro High School.

Demopolis (1-1) picked up its first win of the season Friday night, downing Greensboro 42-14 in the Tigers’ home opener.

The Tigers rushed to a 21-0 lead in the second quarter on 6-yard A.J. Jackson scoring run and a pair of short Logan McVay touchdown sprints.

Greensboro went 83 yards on 10 plays in the third quarter, capping it with a 3-yard touchdown run by Li’Cedric Varner. Reginald Wiggins Jr. then hit Cedrick Tabb Jr. for the conversion pass to cut the deficit to 21-8. After Kendrick Tubbs halted the ensuing Demopolis drive with a fumble recovery, Greensboro went 74 yards in seven plays to pull within a touchdown. Varner culminated the march with a 2-yard plunge to make it 21-14.

8-26-2016 -- Demopolis, Ala. -- Demopolis LB Russ Logan returns an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter against Greensboro High School.
8-26-2016 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis LB Russ Logan returns an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter against Greensboro High School.

Demopolis wasted little time responding. Three plays later, A.J. Besteder scored on a 39-yard touchdown run to make it 28-14. Russ Logan then returned an interception 23 yards for a score to stretch the advantage to 35-14. McVay capped the scoring with a 2-yard run.

“We needed that test. I didn’t want that test. But I actually said before the game that we’re going to see what kind of character that we had,” Luker said of the way his team responded to the Greensboro threat. “That was a good sign for us. We punched them back. We got the interception and we turned a 21-14 game into a blowout. Our defense needed that. It was big.”

Demopolis saw Jackson lead the ground attack with 87 yards on 19 runs and a touchdown. Logan had six tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception and a touchdown.

8-26-2016 -- Demopolis, Ala. -- Demopolis ' R.J. Cox (42) and Matt Beckum (6) stop a runner on a kickoff return against Greensboro High School.
8-26-2016 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis ‘ R.J. Cox (42) and Matt Beckum (6) stop a runner on a kickoff return against Greensboro High School.

“Russ and R.J. (Cox) make a lot of plays for us. They get to the football and do a lot of good things. They’re leaders for our defense,” Luker said.

McVay had seven tackles on defense and three touchdowns on offense.

The game marked the renewal of a long-standing rivalry that had been dormant since 2007. Friday marked the 74th all-time meeting between the teams.

“We needed it. I think it needs to be done. It needs to be one of the biggest games around here and it needs to be again. It needed to be back on the schedule and I’m hoping to keep it on the schedule,” Luker said.

The Tigers travel to Central-Tuscaloosa next Friday night.

8-26-2016 -- Demopolis, Ala. -- Demopolis RB A.J. Besteder breaks free for a touchdown in the third quarter against Greensboro High School.
8-26-2016 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis RB A.J. Besteder breaks free for a touchdown in the third quarter against Greensboro High School.