By Adam Crocker/Sports Correspondent
Coosa Christian dropped its season opener to Winterboro, 44, on Friday (Aug. 28) in Gadsden.
“We were in position to make some good plays in the first half and just didn’t make the tackles,” said Coosa Christian head coach Mike Sheffield. “The biggest factor was our inability to tackle. We got pretty tired. We really only have 14 boys on the varsity team. But no excuse; we just didn’t play good defense.”
The Conquerors (0-1 started the game with the ball their own 16-yard line and started out well with a 21-yard pass from Caden Lipscomb to Dawson Ashley and an 18-yard rush by Wesley Grizzard.
That momentum didn’t hold for long though, as the home team punted with 8:12 remaining in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs (1-0) took over at their own 20-yard line. A 26-yard run from Richard McMeans led to the visitor’s first score, a 35-yard rushing touchdown from Nyjavion Brown. John Wheeler’s PAT attempt was no good, making the score 6-0 with 6:02 remaining in the first quarter.
Following a Conqueror fumble on fourth down, Winterboro started off at the Coosa 27. The guests added in another touchdown after only two plays, with McMeans adding the two-point conversion on an indirect snap. The deficit increased to 14-0 with 11:48 remaining in the second quarter.
The Coosa offense came back out but left almost immediately after an interception on the first play from scrimmage.
It didn’t take long for the Bulldogs to add another score, as a 14-yard run from Cameron Borden resulted in six points. The PAT was blocked, so the score remained 20-0 with 11:14 remaining in the second quarter.
Another Conqueror turnover Coosa led to another touchdown, pushing Winterboro’s lead to 26-0 with 10:47 remaining in the first half.
The Bulldogs scored twice more before halftime to make it 38-0.
Winterboro added one more touchdown at the 5:49 mark of the third quarter.
Lipscomb was 2 for 4 in passing for 32 yards. Ashley ran seven times for 32 yards.
Coosa begins Class 1A, Region 7 play next week at Valley Head.