Photo courtesy of Colin Edwards
By Bobby Mathews/al.com
Blaine Burke scored on a 35-yard run for a game-clinching touchdown in Moody’s 34-21 victory over Southside on Friday, Oct. 27.
Burke’s late TD run answered Southside’s 18-play scoring drive that took 9:53 off the clock in the third quarter.
The win earned the Blue Devils (8-2, 5-1) a share of the Class 5A, Region 6 title. Moody dealt the Panthers (7-2, 5-1) their only loss in region play. Moody, Southside and Leeds are now tied atop the 5A Region 6 standings. Playoff seeding will be determined by the AHSAA tie-breaking procedures after the regular season is completed on Nov. 3.
Moody’s Charlie Johnston finished 12-for-15 passing for 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Burke added 71 yards on the ground and converted a 2-point conversion after Johnston scampered 20 yards for a score to put Moody up 21-0 in the second quarter.
Johnston hit Kadarius Barnes for a 6-yard TD to open the scoring on Moody’s first drive, and Chase Jackson picked off a pass and scooted 22 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Southside had a total of 94 rushing yards called back for holding penalties in the first half.
“Penalties were the difference in the game,” said Southside head coach Miles Holcomb. “In the first half, we couldn’t get out of our own way [and] shot ourselves in the foot. I thought our kids played hard [and] battled back in the second half. [We] pretty much ate up the whole third quarter and made it a one-score game. It just came down to [that] we didn’t make enough plays.”
For the Panthers, Mason Teague was limited to 72 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries due to four holding penalties in the first half that brought back huge gains. Teague also caught two passes for 51 yards.
Quarterback Jordan Bryan finished the night 9-for-18 passing for 165 yards. He also ran for 59 yards and two scores on eight carries. Cayden McMichael had four receptions for 65 yards, while Kody Keuney caught a pair of passes for 43 yards.
Titan Rich finished with 11 tackles, followed by Brayden Bowers with 10 and Dodd and Phillips with eight each.
Cameron Flowers, Jevonte Strong and Micah Hill each had a sack, while Koal Garrett (pictured above) had an interception.
“This outcome doesn’t change the fact that we still have a very good football team,” said Holcomb. “I think this may end up being a blessing in disguise when it comes to the first round of the playoffs.”
Southside travels to Etowah on Friday. Nov. 3 for the 43rd meeting between the two schools.