Kicking game tells tale for Tigers in non-region win

August 31, 2018 Jeremy D. Smith AHSAA, al preps, demopolis high school, demopolis northridge, Jaguars, northridge high school, Tigers, tuscaloosa football

08-31-18 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Demopolis QB Peyton Stevenson escapes the grasp of a Northridge defender in Friday night’s game at Northridge High School. After a rain delay, Demopolis went on to win 22-10. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

TUSCALOOSA – Demopolis scored the first points of the night on a fortuitous bounce off a bad long snap and later held on for a 22-20 road victory over Northridge.

The Jaguars saw a bad snap on a punt attempt roll into the end zone where the Tigers pounced on the Northridge punter for a safety and the 2-0 lead with 5:51 to go in the first quarter. Demopolis then marched 54 yards following the ensuing free kick to stretch the lead to 8-0 on the first of three Antonio Besteder touchdown runs. The Tigers then attempted a surprise onside kick that Northridge recovered at the Demopolis 47. Two plays later, Kameron Miller sprinted 47 yards untouched around the left side to narrow the gap to 8-7. Bryan Finison then added a 47-yard goal with just three minutes left in the half for the 10-8 lead. Demopolis worked itself into field goal range before intermission but missed a 36-yarder.

A surprise onside attempt by Northridge to open the third quarter failed, leading to a 50-yard touchdown drive by Demopolis that culminated in a 1-yard Besteder scoring run. After a three-and-out, Northridge produced its worst punt of the night as a 33-yarder went out of bounds at the DHS 47. Nine plays later, Besteder scored from four yards out for the 22-10 lead.

Northridge got back in it in the fourth quarter as a Finison field goal from 30 narrowed it to 22-13. Crawford Lehman scored on a sneak from a yard away with 43.1 seconds left for the final points. Demopolis recovered the ensuing onside kick to cap it.

C.J. Williams anchored the Demopolis defense with two interceptions. Allen Pruitt also picked off a pass.

Besteder finished with 76 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. Tyquan Alston caught nine passes for 71 yards.

Demopolis (1-1) opens region play next week when it hosts Bibb County.