By Adam Crocker/Sports Correspondent
Southside shook off an extended weather delay to post a 44-20 win over Class 6A, Region 7 rival Lee-Huntsville on Friday at SHS.
“I was proud of how our players handled it,” Southside coach Ron Daugherty said about the long weather delay. “We pretty much went in there and relaxed like it an hour and a half before a game, and we told it was going to be a brand new game.”
The Panthers (6-2, 4-0) started the game off with a quick two-play touchdown drive, capped off by a 61-yard run by Holt Keeling.
The Generals (2-6, 0-4) coughed up the ball on their opening drive to set up Aleric Williams’ 6-yard touchdown run, making it 14-0 with 10 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Lee regained possession, but after a few minutes the game was suspended for an hour and a half due to lightning.
After the break, the visitors punted to set up a 4-yard touchdown by Ben Mills, upping the score to 21-0.
A 40-yard scoring run by Williams soon made it 27-0 in favor of the hosts, and Southside eventually ended the first half with a 37-0 lead.
The Generals cut their deficit to 37-7 after a 13-yard touchdown pass by Cameron Thomas, but the Panthers answered right back with several runs by Colton Helms and Keeling, making it 44-7.
Keeling gained 157 yards on 12 rushes, while Williams ran six times for 78 yards.
Southside travels to Scottsboro next week for another region game.