Photo: Coosa Christian’s J’alan Terry runs for a first down as Fyffe’s Everett Deboard (right) and Ryder Gipson (bottom) attempts a tackle during the Conquerors’ 28-2 victory in high school football on Friday, Sept. 27 in Gadsden. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
Pundits who predicted Coosa Christian would be unable to slow down, much less defeat, the two-time defending Class 2A state champions were sorely mistaken.
In a battle of ranked high school football teams last Friday (Sept. 27), the Class 2A No. 5 Conquerors dismantled Class 3A No. 3 Fyffe, 28-2, at Phillip Ellen Stadium in Gadsden.
The victory was Coosa’s fifth straight, with the Conqueror defense posting its third consecutive shutout in the process. The Red Devils came into the game averaging 47.5 points per game while allowing an average of 10 points. It was the first time in 18 games that Fyffe failed to reach double digits in scoring. The Fyffe offense had not been shut out in 25 years, dating back to Week 8 of the 1999 season.
After Fyffe registered a safety midway through the first quarter when the ball sailed into the end zone on a Coosa punt attempt, the Conquerors kept the Red Devils off the scoreboard. Coosa held the visitors to 38 yards, all on the ground, while limiting the Red Devils to only two successful third and fourth down conversions out of 13 attempts.
The Conquerors also forced eight turnovers, including three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a safety. Fyffe’s six second-half possessions resulted in two punts, two lost fumbles an interception and a safety. Not counting the final play of the game, Fyffe crossed midfield only once during the final 24 minutes.
“Quite honestly, going into the season I thought this would be the third or fourth best team on our schedule,” said Coosa Christian head coach Mark O’Bryant. “[Fyffe] got beat at what they do best; we played their game and we beat them. I think we wore [Fyffe] down in the second half. They couldn’t move the ball on us, plain and simple. We go week to week, so we’ll enjoy this and then get ready for Cleveland. But I’ve never been prouder of a team after a win as I am right now for these guys.”
Senior linebacker Clete O’Bryant was a thorn in the Red Devils’ side all night, finishing with 16 tackles, including six for a loss.
“We just did what we were supposed to do; this is what happens when you’ve got a disciplined defense,” he said. “Fyffe is one of the best team’s I’ve ever played against. They play hard, they play fast and they play physical, but we got the best of them tonight. [During] my whole high school career, we’ve kind of looked up to [Fyffe] on how to be a great team. We’ve now set that standard, not only for ourselves but for the state. In our eyes, we’re the role model now.”
J’Alan Terry paced the Coosa ground game with 85 yards on eight carries. Kanon Wilson rushed 14 times for 50 yards.
“We’ve always based things on how Fyffe does it and how physical they’ve always been, and to now be on that level is a great feeling,” said senior quarterback and six-year starter John David Justus. “We weren’t getting much penetration in the running game in the first half, so the coaches made some adjustments at halftime. It also stopped raining, so we could throw the ball a little better in the second half. We just have to keep working hard and get better and better each week.”
Halen Palmer and Cade Mickler each had eight tackles for Coosa, with Mickler notching two sacks. Kylen Johnson had 7.5 tackles, followed by Dylan Edwards with 6.5; Eli Motes, Grayson Malone and Radley Mayes with six each; D.J. Mackey with 5.5 and Zayden Franklin with four. Mickler had two sacks, Malone and Edwards both had an interception and Mays recovered two fumbles.
Neither team had much success in moving the ball during the first half while playing in a driving rainstorm. Matters began badly for Coosa when Fyffe blocked a punt attempt on the first series of the game and recorded a safety on the Conquerors’ second possession.
The Fyffe offense had similar issues, however, coming up short on a fourth down conversion attempt and getting a pass picked off by Dylan Edwards. That turnover did not result in points, but the next Coosa drive ended with John David Justus’ 16-yard touchdown pass to Johnson with 3:43 left in the second quarter. Jorge Cantellano pushed through the extra point. Less than two minutes later, Mackey recovered a fumble and ran it back 59 yards to pay dirt for a 14-2 advantage going into halftime.
“Our offense was struggling (in the first half) because (Simon Hicks) was doing a great job at backside linebacker,” said Mark O’Bryant. “So we made a couple of adjustments at halftime that helped open up the running game.”
Johnson’s interception 13 seconds into the fourth quarter set up a 12-play, 50-yard series that did not result in points but drained more than seven minutes off the game clock and kept a tired Fyffe defense on the field.
The Conquerors then scored a pair touchdowns, both off turnovers, in a span of 10 seconds to put the game out of reach.
One play into the Red Devil drive that followed Coosa’s extended possession, Fyffe fumbled the ball out of the end zone for a safety and a 16-2 Coosa lead with 4:47 remaining in the game.
The Conquerors wasted no time in padding their advantage. Coosa recovered the ensuing onside kick, and on the first play from scrimmage, Terry took it to the house from 33 yards out for a 20-point lead.
Coosa wasn’t finished. Johnson recovered a fumble on the following kickoff, setting up the hosts at the Red Devil 34-yard line. Six plays later, Wilson scored on a 3-yard run, and with Cantellano’s PAT, the Conquerors went up 29-2 with 1:42 left.
Coosa defensive coordinator Teddy Whitmire, a 2006 Fyffe graduate, played for current Fyffe head coach Paul Benefield. Playing primarily at nose guard, Whitemire made the all-county and all-region teams his junior and senior years, as well as all-state his senior season. He also was an assistant under Benefield for two years.
“I’m appreciative of everything I learned at Fyffe and I’m appreciative of everything Coach Benefield has done for me,” said Whitmire. “We talked all week to our guys about reading their keys and having good eye discipline and maintain their self-control. Our guys were up to the challenge tonight and made plays when they had to, and I’m really proud of them.”
The Conquerors resume their Class 2A Region 6 schedule on Friday, Oct. 4 at home against Cleveland.
