By Cole Frederick/Fort Payne Times Journal
The Coosa Christian football team picked up its first win in 19 games in a thrilling 7-6 victory over Valley Head in a Class 1A, Region 6 showdown last Friday (Sept. 2) in Gadsden.
The Conquerors (1-2, 1-0) scored their only touchdown of the night on a one-yard quarterback sneak from Caiden Lipscomb with 50 seconds remaining, and the successful extra point attempt gave Coosa the lead.
The Tiger defense controlled the game for most of the night, but the Conquerors recovered a fumble by quarterback Ethan Harrison and returned it to the Valley Head 15-yard line with 3:45 remaining in the game.
Lipscomb connected with Jacob McDowell on a 12-yard pass before scoring the go-ahead touchdown four plays later.
“All the work they put in paid off,” said Coosa head coach Chris Sanders. “We’ve just got to keep working and come back Monday to go to work again. We need to work on tackling and being more fundamental. We need to finish blocks and finish plays, but I’m proud of them.”
Harrison picked off two passes, including one that set up the Tigers’ lone score of the game in the second quarter. Harrison returned the interception 30 yards to the Coosa 30-yard line. Four plays later, Harrison scored on a 5-yard quarterback keeper to make the score 6-0 with 33 seconds before halftime. The point after attempt was no good, and the Tigers (0-2, 0-1) took the lead into the locker room.
Both defenses set the tone for the game early. In the first quarter, the two teams exchanged fumbles on back-to-back plays. Harrison also picked off another Lipscomb pass in the end zone in the third quarter.
Coosa complied 166 total yards on the night, while Valley Head gained 155.
Lipscomb was 10 of 27 in passing for 118 yards. Caleb Garrett had five receptions for 65 yards, while Dartavious Britton caught four passes for 40 yards. Britton also rushed 11 times for 33 yards and caught three passes for 21 yards.
Teppei Daisaku had 10 tackles, followed by Mills with nine, Garrett with seven and Seongsoo Park and Josh Burger with six each. Burger, Jackson Justus and Caden Davidson each had a sack.
Coosa Christian travels to Ragland this Friday (Sept. 9) in Class 1A, Region 6 play.