PREP FOOTBALL: No. 1 Auburn High pounds Daphne, sets up showdown with Prattville

DAPHNE — The homestanding Trojans drove 63 yards in six plays on their first drive against top-ranked Auburn High on Friday, taking an early 7-point lead in the Class 6A quarterfinals.

That was about as far as the upset bid went.

The Tigers scored on their next drive and added 17 more points in the next seven minutes, opening up some serious breathing room on Daphne and coasting to a 44-10 win that set up a 1-vs.-2 date with Prattville in the semifinals next Friday.

Prattville outlasted Davidson, 10-7.

“We weren’t gonna go out without a fight,” running back Augustus Brooks said. “I said to the offensive line, ‘Let’s put it on them right now. It’s our time to shine.’

“That’s what we did.”

After Brooks scored to even up the game, Auburn’s defense forced turnovers on the Trojans’ next three possessions, giving the offense a short field each time.

Todd Thompson intercepted a Russ Moseley pass, Rodney Thomas sacked Moseley and Julian Holloway picked up the fumble, and Holloway sacked Moseley on the next drive, with Thomas returning the favor and picking up the loose ball.

Those turnovers led to 17 points for the Tigers (13-0).

“We got our composure back together and started playing Auburn High football,” Holloway said. “We know the defense, it’s up to us. We’ve gotta strike fear into our opposition.”

Daphne (6-7) had a chance to cut Auburn’s lead to 7 before the half, moving down to the Tigers’ 7 with less than a minute to go.

But a motion penalty negated a Moseley touchdown pass to Israel Lamprakes on second down. Moseley was thrown for a 13-yard loss on third. Then, with the clock running and no timeouts, Moseley spiked the ball on fourth down, turning it back over to the Tigers.

Auburn didn’t let off the throttle in the second half, as Daphne had trouble judging a high, short Mason Wachter kick at the beginning of the third quarter and the Tigers fell on it, again giving the offense great field position.

Desmond Purter cashed that in three plays later, extending the Tigers’ lead to 31-10.

And the rout was on.

“The second half was the key,” Auburn coach Tim Carter said. “We felt like if we could get two scores, we could put this game out of reach. And they did that early.”

That second score came on a 17-yard pass from Calvin Jenkins to Purter with 1:31 left in the third, making the fourth quarter just for show.

Brooks finished with 159 yards and a score on 15 carries — Auburn rushed for 291 on the night — Cameron Luper hooked up on a 35-yard touchdown to Tony Holland on a reverse in the first half, Kevin Griffin led the Tigers with seven tackles and Thomas added six.

Moseley was 14-of-27 for 178 yards and two picks, Lamprakes had six catches for 64 yards, and T.J. Yeldon rushed for 67 yards and a score on 16 carries.

Daphne gained only 73 of its 221 yards in the second half.

Auburn is making its second semifinal appearance in school history and its first since 2001, when the 5-5 Tigers made a run to the fourth round before being put out by Daphne.

The last time they were underdogs. This time, they’re not.

“We’ve kinda had to be that frontrunner for quite some time now, been in the top 10 all year, been No. 1 since Week 7,” Carter said. “I’m so proud of the kids handling the pressure of that No. 1 jinx.”

Next up, the three-time defending state champion Prattville Lions at Duck Samford Stadium.

A team that, despite its No. 2 ranking, has not lost in-state since 2005.

“We’re not backing down,” Holloway said.”We’re attacking, and we’re ready.

“It’s gonna be a packed house at the Duck next week.”

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