Photo: Hokes Bluff’s Blake Green (18) and Brennan Ward (22) tackle Alexandria’s Elijah Hunter during the Eagles’ 28-27 loss in high school football on Friday, Oct. 4 at Alexandria. (Courtesy of Alex Chaney)
Hokes Bluff’s five-game undefeated streak came to an end, on Friday, Oct. 4 at Alexandria.
With the No. 8 Eagles (5-1, 3-1) leading by 13 points early in the fourth quarter, the Valley Cubs scored two touchdowns in the final 5:26 to emerge with a 28-27 victory in Class 4A, Region 6 action.
The winning score came after Alexandria recovered an onside kick with less than two minutes remaining in the game. The Valley Cubs drove the Eagle 1-yard line, and with 24 seconds left, Cole Wheeler ran it in to tie the game and Grayson Forest nailed the PAT to win it.
For Hokes Bluff, Bryce Whitaker rushed for 200 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Blaine Barron ran 11 times for 57 yards and a TD, Brenton Hale gained 26 yards on seven carries and Alex Carter had seven attempts for 35 yards and a score. Anderson Morgan had two catches for 27 yards.
Colten Shields led the way defensively with 10 tackles, followed by Morgan and Connor Ford with six each. Shields had two sacks and two tackles for a loss, while Morgan had an interception. Logan Wiemann and Caden Howard both recovered a fumble.
Hokes Bluff opened the scoring at 8:37 of the first quarter on Carter’s 18-yard touchdown run and Leon Chenn’s PAT.
Alexandria tied the score on the next possession with Wheeler’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Manqrea Morris with 38 seconds left in the opening period.
Whitaker’s 27-yard touchdown run at the midway point of the second frame regained the advantage before Wheeler and Morris connected for another TD, this time from 24 yards out.
Hokes Bluff built a 13-point lead during the third quarter with respective touchdown runs from Whitaker and Barron, but the Valley Cubs scored the final 14 points of the game to rally for the win.
Hokes Bluff continues region play on Friday, Oct. 11 at home against third-ranked Cherokee County.
