By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent
Making its second trip to Etowah County in as many weeks on Friday (Oct. 11), Arab went 0-2 against local teams after a 41-11 loss to Etowah in Attalla. Last week the Knights suffered a 45-25 loss to No. 10 Southside.
The win kept the Blue Devils (6-1, 4-1) in a second-place tie with Scottsboro and set up a big region game on Friday at first-place Southside (7-0, 5-0).
The Etowah defense held Arab to just 163 yards of total offense, while the Blue Devils rolled up 415 yards.
“We knew the game would be physical but we executed well,” said Etowah head coach Drew Noles. “We are going to get there. Next up is Southside, and it will be a war.”
It took the Blue Devils just 14 seconds to take the lead for good. Lamar Thomas took the opening kickoff at the Etowah 9-yard line and outran the Arab defenders on a 91-yard touchdown return. The PAT failed but the Blue Devils were in command with 11:46 remaining in the first quarter.
Jacob Lynch got Arab (1-6, 1-4) on the board with a 32-yard field goal with 7:58 to go in the second quarter.
Etowah responded with a 61-yard, eight-play drive capped by Devin Horton’s 16-yard touchdown run with 5:32 remaining in the first half giving Etowah a 13-3 halftime lead.
Paul Ruiz scored on a 42-yard run midway through the third quarter to increase the Etowah lead to 20-3.
Etowah rounded out the scoring in the third quarter when backup quarterback Andy Noles found Jordan Powell on a 16-yard scoring pass to increase the Devil lead to 27-3.
Etowah added another score on Arab’s next possession when Larry Underwood returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown with 11:46 remaining.
Stacy Williams rounded out Etowah’s scoring with 10:16 to go in the game with a 62-yard touchdown run.
Arab added a score late in the game on Noah Carter’s 5-yard touchdown run. A two-point conversion closed out the scoring at 41-11.
Ruiz rushed for 140 yards on 19 carries, while Williams carried six times for 110 yards.
Andy Noles completed 6-of-10 passes for 88 yards. Kordell Rudolph completed 5-of -10 passes for 46 yards before leaving the game after the first half.