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By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal
The Lowndes Academy Rebels played with much emotion before the home crowd Friday night, but suffered the fate of too many turnover again in falling to the Patrician Saints 47-28, according to Rebels’ head football coach Todd Bradford.
The loss dropped the Rebels to O-3 overall and 0-2 in Class A Region 1.
“We showed a little more emotion than we have in previous games,” Bradford said following the lopsided loss. “We just turned the ball over too many times again.”
Bradford said his Rebels played until the end of the game and didn’t quit. “I haven’t seen us quit yet. But we just turned the ball over too many times… that’s something we’ve got to stress… taking care of the ball.”
On the positive side, Bradford said Calvinar Thomas, Thomas Ward and Cody Harrell all ran the ball hard. But with interceptions and fumbles, Bradford said, “We’re making the same mistakes, and we’ve got to eliminate that.”
Patrician led 13-0 at the end of the first quarter and led 20-0 before quarterback Wade Howard connected with Harrell on a 14-yard touchdown pass at the 6:28 mark of the second quarter. The 2-point play failed and the Rebels had closed the gap to 20-6.
Patrician proved no saintly visitors as they upped their lead on the Rebels 27-6 at the half and to 34-6 late in the third quarter.
But the Rebels were not about to lay down. And Howard put the Rebels on the board again with a 1-yard plunger followed by a 2-yard run by Harrell for the 2-point play.
Those points made it a 34-14 contest with 1:53 left in the third quarter.
The saints just wouldn’t behave as they scored early in the fourth quarter to go up 40-14.
But Rebels still weren’t going away. Calvinar Thomas scored on a 19-yard run and Ward added the 2-point play to make a 40-22 contest at the 7:37 mark of the fourth quarter.
The Saints would add one more score to go up 47-22 before Howard scored on a 9-yard run to make the final 47-28.
For the Rebels, Harrell had 55 yards rushing while Thomas had 61 yards rushing. Harrell led in pass receptions with 53 yards. And Howard completed six of 14 passing.
Thomas had 97 yards in kick returns for the Rebels.
Also for Lowndes Academy, Ethan Bennett led the team in tackles with six solo and seven assists, Harrell had five tackles with four assists and Owen Nall had three tackles with six assists.
The Rebels travel to Chambers on Friday.
Other Football Action
In other Lowndes County football action, Friday night, Calhoun fell to Zion Chapel at home 49-7 and Central fell to Elba 54-0 at home.
The Calhoun loss, in what was their last home game of the season, dropped the Tigers to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in Class 2A Region 3 play.
Jakeem Davison connected with Jemarcus Rhimes on a 35-yard pass play for the Tigers only touchdown of the night and kicked the extra point.
Calhoun head football coach Dewayne Williams said Jakeem Davison also had 250 yards passing Friday night despite numerous drops by his receivers.
Calhoun travels to Goshen Friday night.
The Central loss dropped the Lions to 0-2 overall and 0-2 in Class 2A Region 3 play.
Central head football coach James Bibb Jr. said, “We didn’t play great at all.”
He said the Lions lacked focus and could not stop the big play. And while he said his Lions could move the ball, they could not put it in the end zone.
“Elba beat us hands down,” Bibb said. “I’m glad we didn’t have any serious injuries though.”
Central travels to Luverne Friday night.