By T.J. Shields/Messenger Sports Correspondent
The Hokes Bluff defense was unable to withstand Alexandria’s bruising rushing attack last Friday, falling to the Valley Cubs by a score of 21-7.
“We play a tough schedule,” said Hokes Bluff head coach Mike Robertson. “It doesn’t get any easier past tonight. With Lincoln, Glencoe, Cleburne County, and Anniston coming up, we ‘re going to have to scratch and claw for every win.”
The visiting Valley Cubs drew first blood.
On the first play of the first drive of the game, tailback Justin Owens broke a 61-yard run around the right end at 10:14 in the first quarter. A shanked extra point attempt resulted in a 6-0 Alexandria lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Valley Cubs were able to punch it in again following two stalled Eagles drives.
Owens ran it straight up the gut from nine yards out for his second score on the ground. A quick pass from Tanner Wells to Alton Davis made for a successful two-point conversion to bring the Valley Cubs lead to 14-0 at the beginning of the second quarter.
The Eagles (0-3, 0-2) quickly answered. A five-play touchdown drive was capped off by a 53-yard heave from Brad Robertson to Jake Ponder. A successful fourth and short quarterback keeper kept the drive alive.
The second drive of the second half produced the biggest play of the night.
A right-side out route from Wells to Owens turned into a 77-yard foot race, as Alexandria put the score even further out of the Eagles grasp making it 21-7
“There is normally four or five plays in a game that will determine its outcome,” said Robertson. “Alexandria got three out of four tonight.”
With the third quarter rolling quickly by, the Eagles started spreading the ball around. “We really feel the Brad is one of the strengths on our team, so we just cut him loose,” said Robertson.
Cut Robertson loose the Eagles did, as he went 5-for-7 in passing on the final drive. An interception in the final minute, however, ended any hopes of an Eagle comeback. Robertson finished 15-for-27 in passing for 116 yards.
Owens ended his night with 249 all-purpose yards while accounting for all three of the Valley Cubs touchdowns.
The Eagles travel to Lincoln on Friday in another region matchup.