PREP FOOTBALL: Auburn High coasts past Lee in Class 6A first round

If you want to nitpick, Auburn High’s 30-6 Class 6A first-round playoff win over Robert E. Lee could have been bigger.

A muffed punt by the Tigers late in the third quarter, which led to the Generals’ only touchdown of the game, spoiled a shutout for the Region 3 champions.

But, in the playoffs, nitpicking doesn’t matter. Winning does.

And Auburn (11-0) took care of that early and cruised into a second-round playoff game next Friday against Wetumpka. The game will kickoff at 7 p.m. at Duck Samford Stadium.

Wetumpka beat visiting Enterprise, 20-17, in their first-round playoff game Friday to move on.

“I thought the kids played great tonight,” AHS head coach Tim Carter said. “The effort was good. We’re glad to advance.”

The Tigers led 16-0 at halftime, and added two touchdowns in the third quarter to take a commanding 30-0 lead.

Senior quarterback Calvin Jenkins started the scoring for Auburn on its first possession of the game, capping a 12-play, 74-yard opening drive with a 10-yard keeper into the end zone.

Senior running back Augustus Brooks made it 14-0 on the first play of the second quarter, bulling his way in from 4 yards out.

Then Auburn’s defense got on the board when Rodney Robinson blocked a Terrance Smith punt at the 5-yard line. Robinson followed the loose ball, but couldn’t pick it up before it rolled out of the back of the end zone. The play resulted in a safety and a 16-0 Tiger lead with 9:29 to play in the first half.

Auburn would only touch the ball for five more plays the rest of the second quarter, as Lee (4-7) was intent on running the ball and grinding out the clock.

“Lee played hard,” Carter said. “They were content with playing it close to the vest. We only got four offensive possessions there in the first half.”

Well, five, but that last possession was an Auburn kneel down to run out the last 15.4 seconds of first-half clock.

The second half, however, was all AHS.

The Tigers got the ball to open the third and promptly went eight plays for a touchdown. Brooks scored on a 5-yard run to make it 23-0.

Brooks would again find the end zone with 1:37 to play in the third when Jenkins made a highlight reel scramble and throw to his running back for a score.

On second-and-4, from the Generals’ 26, Jenkins rolled out to his right looking to throw downfield, but Lee’s defense was in position to make a sack. Jenkins, shook off one tackler and dodged another as he moved back to his left. That’s when he found Brooks all alone in the left flat.

Brooks did the rest, going 26 yards for the score and a 30-point lead.

“The kids are focused, and they showed it tonight,” Carter said. “We played well. We had no mistakes until the game was well in hand.”

Brooks finished with 109 yards on 20 carries and those two rushing touchdowns. He also had two catches for 41 yards and a score.

Jenkins rushed for 87 yards on 12 carries and a TD, while throwing for 93 yards and a score to finish 7-for-15 passing.

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