By Deunte Marshall/Sports Correspondent
Gadsden City obtained new life in the Class 6A, Region 7 standings with a 14-0 victory over visiting Albertville last Friday (Sept. 20) at GCHS.
“We had our ups and downs and we got off to a fast start,” said GCHS head coach Matt Scott. “As long as we play as hard and as physical as we have [been doing], we will always have a chance.”
A fast start fast is exactly what the Titans (2-2, 2-1) put together, as Dante Rudolph took the opening kickoff back 52 yards to the Albertville 18 yard line.
Three plays later Rudolph finished the drive with a 1-yard score on a fourth down conversion attempt with 10:18 left in the first quarter.
On the ensuing possession, the Aggies (1-3, 0-3) fumbled a snap after three straight offside penalties, leading to Terrell Malone to scamper 14 yards for the touchdown with 6:20 to go in the first half.
The Aggies’ final drive of the night started at their 6-yard line and consumed 17 plays and 7:11 off the clock.
Morris had two runs off 11 yards, and Whitmore ran for 22. Austin Pankey contributed a 14-yard keeper.
An offensive pass interference penalty pushed AHS back from the Titans’ 23 to their 38.
On fourth-and-25, Morris rolled to his right and threw back across the field to Brayden Countryman for a gain of 32 yards to the Gadsden City 6.
But the Aggies couldn’t cash in their opportunity, as Jacobs was dropped for a 3-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 3 with 2:29 remaining.
For Gadsden City, Sloan Tyler went 6-for-10 in passing for 60 yards. Rudolph led the Titans on the ground with 76 yards on 15 carries, while Gabriel Ford ran eight times for 66 yards
Gadsden City travels to Auburn on Friday in a non-region game.
Shannon J. Allen contributed to this story.