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Demopolis unable to move stout Vigor defense in quarterfinal loss

Jeremy D. Smith , , , ,
11-23-18 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis’ AJ Besteder (6) is jammed up by a couple Vigor Wolves during Friday’s quarterfinal game in Demopolis. Demopolis fell 27-7. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

Demopolis proved unable to overcome an oppressive Vigor defense Friday night, falling 27-7 in the Class 5A quarterfinal round.

Despite a pedestrian offensive performance, Demopolis kept it close until the 5:57 mark in the fourth quarter when DeAnthony Walker blocked a punt allowing Desmond Little to scoop it up and waltz in from two yards out for the 21-7 lead. With 1:46 to play, Jayland Whitsett ran in untouched from the 17 for the final nail.

“I’ve got to give credit to Vigor and Coach Deric Scott. That defense is all that everybody said it was,” Demopolis Head Coach Brian Seymore said. “They’re very good up front. They’ve got some cover corners that can lock people up. They’re disciplined. They don’t make mistakes. It’s hard to screen them. They can put so much pressure on your run game and your pass game. It’s relentless. They deserve to be moving on. They were the better team tonight.”

The Tigers fell behind in the first quarter when Whitsett went unabated up the middle for a 37-yard touchdown run. The Wolves held the lead until Fred Haywood returned a fumble to help set up the Demopolis offense. On fourth down, Peyton Stevenson heaved it into the end zone where Tyquan Alston slid in underneath the ball for the touchdown reception.

11-23-18 — Demopolis. Ala. — Vigor’s Artel Howell (4) dives to make a catch with Demopolis’ Alexander Besteder (3) in coverage. Howell did not complete the catch. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

Vigor went on top to stay when a strip sack set the Wolves up at the Demopolis 10. Kyle Walker went over the top to Ronald Cooper for the go-ahead touchdown.

Demopolis forced five Vigor fumbles and recovered three but it was not enough to help an offense that mustered a total of 12 yards and only two first downs.

The loss leaves ends the Demopolis season at 10-3 just one year after they made the semifinal round.

“I think it solidified last year. I think everybody thought maybe we got lucky. But we’re a program to be reckoned with year in and year out,” Seymore said. “We’ve got to build on this. It’s disappointing. I’m proud of them. I like what I saw in the locker room because it hurt them to lose like that. As long as you’ve got that, you’ve got a chance to be successful.”