Rain, Vols dampen Longhorns home opener

August 31, 2017September 1, 2017 Michael Clements AISA, Alabama, football, high school, Linden, Longhorns, Marengo Academy, Monroe Academy, Sports, volunteers

8-31-2017 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo Academy’s Casey Cramer (22) looks for running room against the Monroe Academy Volunteers.

LINDEN — For the second week in a row, the Class 1A Marengo Academy Longhorns faced a powerful Class 3A football team. This week, the Longhorns hosted the Volunteers from Monroe Academy in their home opener. Even after making some improvements from the previous week, the ‘Horns still succumbed to a more powerful team.

The ‘Horns received the opening kickoff and started at their own 38-yard line. However, they would go three-and-out on their first possession. Following a Longhorn punt, the visiting Vols finished their first possession with a touchdown run and tacked on the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 8:21 to go in the first quarter.

8-31-2017 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo Academy’s Gavin Thompson returns a kickoff against the Monroe Academy Volunteers.

After another Longhorn three-and-out, the Vols hit a 69-yard catch and run on the first play of their second possession. The PAT failed and the Longhorns trailed 13-0 with 6:27 to go in the first quarter. The Volunteers cashed in with a 12-yard run on their third possession. After a successful PAT, the Longhorns found themselves down 20-0 with 2:51 to go in the first quarter.

With 30.9 seconds left to go in the first quarter, the remnants of Hurricane Harvey unleashed several minutes of fury. After the short weather delay, the Longhorns showed some life as they pushed the ball down to the Volunteer 16-yard line. After a loss of four, Casey Cramer’s pass was picked off at the 4-yard line, stopping the ‘Horns drive.

The Volunteers would drive to the Longhorns’ 21-yard line where they would score on a 31-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was successful and the ‘Horns were down 27-0 with 7:12 to go in the second quarter. After their next possession stalled, the Longhorns’ made a defensive stand that resulted in a Volunteer punt. However, the punt was mishandled and the Vols recovered the fumble at the Longhorns’ 21-yard line. Two plays later and with 1:36 to go in the second quarter, the ‘Horns trailed 34-0 after a 19-yard touchdown pass and successful PAT. The first half would end with that score.

The Vols would receive the second half kickoff and march the length of the field, cashing in with a 15-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was successful and the Longhorns trailed 41-0 with 9:09 to go in the third quarter.

8-31-2017 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo Academy’s Casey Cramer (22) and Alex Owens (52) wrap up a Vol runner in their home opener against Monroe Academy.

Never giving up, the Longhorns moved the ball down to the Volunteers’ 3-yard line, but turned it over on downs there. After a defensive stand, the Longhorns got the ball back with a little under three minutes to go. After a Zach Fleming catch at the 20-yard line, the Longhorns fumbled on their last play attempt as the clock ran out.

The Longhorns tallied 143 yards for the game, with 125 of those coming on the ground and 18 through the air. William Drake led the ground attack with 93 yards on 17 carries. Gavin Thompson added 25 yards on 16 attempts. Fleming added one catch for 18 yards.

Defensively, Drake and Thompson led the Longhorns with seven tackles each. Alex Owens and Taylor Woodall added five tackles each.

The Longhorns (0-2) will travel to Greensboro for a Class 1A matchup with the Southern Academy Cougars next week.