Thursday, May 2, 2024

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Demopolis clinches Region 3 crown with Homecoming win

Jeremy D. Smith , , , , , , ,
10-07-16 -- Demopolis, Ala. -- Demopolis' William Wilkins (23) pushes through a pile in Friday's game against Sumter Central in Demopolis, Ala. The game was Demopolis' Homecoming. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-07-16 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis’ William Wilkins (23) pushes through a pile in Friday’s game against Sumter Central in Demopolis, Ala. The game was Demopolis’ Homecoming. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

Demopolis did it part to wrap up the Class 5A, Region 3 title Friday night with a 45-14 win over Sumter Central. The Tiger caused received the help it needed when Calera beat Jemison 41-27, clinching the Region 3 title for the Tigers.

10-07-16 -- Demopolis, Ala. -- Demopolis' Shakari Williams (10) runs the ball off a screen pass in Friday's game against Sumter Central in Demopolis, Ala. The game was Demopolis' Homecoming. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-07-16 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis’ Shakari Williams (10) runs the ball off a screen pass in Friday’s game against Sumter Central in Demopolis, Ala. The game was Demopolis’ Homecoming. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

“We’ve wrapped up another region title. That’s back-to-back years and that’s big for these kids. I think three in a row maybe dating back to when Tom (Causey) was here,” Demopolis coach Stacy Luker said. “That’s good for our program. It gives us a four seed here in the first round.”

The Tigers established themselves early, taking the first drive 61 yards on 14 plays to score on a 2-yard Logan McVay touchdown run.

After forcing a three-and-out, Demopolis went 51 yards on eight plays and saw A.J. Jackson punch it in from a yard out on the final play of the first quarter for the 14-0 lead. The Tigers possessed the ball for 10:46 seconds in the first quarter and amassed 112 yards on 22 plays to grab the early lead.

“Time consuming drives. Converted some fourth downs. Completed some balls. We did some good things on defense. We were three-and-out on three straight possessions. We did some good things,” Luker said.

10-07-16 -- Demopolis, Ala. -- Sumter Central's Benji Blakely (20) is tackled by Demopolis' R.J. Cox (42) and Rus Logan (43) in Friday's game in Demopolis, Ala. The game was Demopolis' Homecoming. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-07-16 — Demopolis, Ala. — Sumter Central’s Benji Blakely (20) is tackled by Demopolis’ R.J. Cox (42) and Rus Logan (43) in Friday’s game in Demopolis, Ala. The game was Demopolis’ Homecoming. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

The second quarter began in much the same fashion as the Tigers needed six plays to go 74 yards and score on a 12-yard touchdown run from William Wilkins. Alexander Besteder followed by hitting Matt Beckum in the back of the end zone for a conversion pass and the 22-0 lead. The Tiger momentum turned in the second quarter when Keenan Law intercepted an errant pass and returned it to the Demopolis 25. Christopher Millsap then his Quindarius Jackson for a 25-yard pass to the Demopolis 2. Millsap capped it with a 1-yard touchdown run before hitting Jackson on the conversion throw to make it 22-8.

Demopolis reasserted itself in the third quarter when William Wilkins broke an 83-yard run to set up a 2-yard touchdown dive from Jackson to make it 29-8.

Sumter found the end zone again when Daniel Lawson caught a 22-yard pass from Millsap to cut it to 29-14. It would get no closer as the Tigers took over in the fourth quarter.

10-07-16 -- Demopolis, Ala. -- Sumter Central's Deandre Fortner (6) is tackled by Demopolis' Erin White (45) in Friday's game in Demopolis, Ala. The game was Demopolis' Homecoming. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-07-16 — Demopolis, Ala. — Sumter Central’s Deandre Fortner (6) is tackled by Demopolis’ Erin White (45) in Friday’s game in Demopolis, Ala. The game was Demopolis’ Homecoming. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

“I think we lost our focus a little bit, but then we found it again. I thought we finished well with 16 points in the fourth quarter,” Luker said. “We are looking for some consistency. We’re going to find it. Surely we’re going to find it.”

McVay scored on an 8-yard run and a 1-yard run before Khyrim Bryant blocked a punt through the back of the end zone for a safety to set the final score.

Demopolis amassed 429 yards of total offense on 64 snaps. Jackson had 92 yards on 23 carries while Wilkins finished with 118 yards on six runs. R.J. Cox led the defense with 10 total tackles. Alexander Besteder had seven stops.

Demopolis (6-1, 5-0) travels to Class 7A Enterprise next Friday night. Sumter Central falls to 1-7 and travels to Calera.

 

 

 

10-07-16 -- Demopolis, Ala. -- R.J. Cox (42) tackles Sumter Central's Antoine Hunt (26) in Friday's game in Demopolis, Ala. The game was Demopolis' Homecoming. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-07-16 — Demopolis, Ala. — R.J. Cox (42) tackles Sumter Central’s Antoine Hunt (26) in Friday’s game in Demopolis, Ala. The game was Demopolis’ Homecoming. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)