PREP FOOTBALL: Loachapoka breezes to victory

LOACHAPOKA — Holy Spirit’s charter bus didn’t roll into the Loachapoka High parking lot until 7:05 p.m. Friday, setting the Class 1A first-round playoff game’s kickoff back 45 minutes.

The Indians’ shutdown defense and dominant offensive line made up for the Titans’ tardiness by putting the game away early.

The Indians scored touchdowns on their first four drives of the game, while the defense limited Holy Spirit to just two first downs and 38 yards of first-half offense to cruise to a 38-0 victory.

“We went out here and executed plays as a team, just played hard,” tailback/safety Cory North said.

“We really got a good chance and I think we can go all the way.”

The No. 5 Indians will host No. 4 Maplesville in the second round next Friday.

While the teams shook hands after Friday night’s game, Loachapoka coach Jerome Tate received some keys to how the Indians can beat Maplesville from Holy Spirit coach Jack Hankins, whose team lost to the Red Devils, 55-7, two weeks ago.

Tate’s focus, though, remained on how the Indians picked up their fourth shutout of the season. He said the Indians did “OK.”

“The thing about the playoffs is you just want to win now,” Tate said.

Demetrius Young’s 59-yard touchdown run on the Indians’ second offensive play from scrimmage didn’t count because of a holding call downfield, but it set the tone for what turned out to be one of Loachapoka’s most dominating rushing performances of the season.

The Indians finished with 235 rushing yards on 34 carries — an average of nearly 7 yards per attempt. All but 20 came in the first half, as Loachapoka ran just 12 plays from scrimmage in a second half that the coaches agreed to shorten because of the Indians’ large lead.

“We made a focus this week on being able to run the football,” Tate said. “And we ran the football well.”

Young, North, quarterback Patrick Moore and Kevin Dowdell all scored rushing touchdowns in the first half, giving the Indians a 25-0 lead at
halftime.

North led all rushers with 80 yards on nine carries. Young finished with 59, Moore had 39 and Dowdell added 37.

“We’re just moving the ball good and the O-line stepped up,” North said.

Moore finished with three touchdowns total, scoring from 3 yards out on the second play of the fourth quarter and connecting with Quindravius Richardson 5 minutes later on a 21-yard touchdown pass.

Moore finished 6-of-10 for 132 yards. Richardson caught four passes for 97 yards and Travis Echols hauled in three for 62.

The Titans gained just 96 yards of total offense, as the Indians forced nine of their 37 plays to go for negative yardage. Defensive end Marvin Hunter blew up a play and ended up intercepting an option pitch, while North added a sack and a fumble recovery.

“That was good defense,” North said. “I thought we could have been better, but we still shut them out so we got to keep moving forward and keep moving on.”

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