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The Calhoun School Tigers met the Goshen Eagles on the road Friday night and sustained a 8-40 loss on the rain-soaked gridiron.

Head coach Ervin Starr said despite the loss, the Tigers’ running game was strong.

“We did run the ball well,” Starr said. “We just had a game where there were too many mistakes. We ran the ball for 150 yards rushing, but we probably had that many yards in penalties. That kind of nullified everything we did good.

Penalties Calhoun racked up included holding and offside errors, Starr said, “pre-snap” missteps and careless mishaps for the so far winless Tigers. The team has focused on assignments and building a strong defense, something that is coming together well, he said.

“We’ve done a good job of lining up and making sure our defense is actually playing well, despite what scoreboards have shown during most of our games,” Starr said. “We’re just making so many mistakes offensively and on special teams that they’re scoring low.

“We kicked off last week and the kick went straight to our linemen on kick return, and it bounced right back to them so [Goshen] got the ball on a short field. So, it’s just been things like that we have got to clean up.”

Learning from mistakes is part of the process, Starr said, and the Tigers will focus on doing just that during an off-night Friday.

“I think we are getting better,” Starr said. “We want to try to win every game, and we think this is part of our skills growth so that moving forward it gives us a real good chance to win.”

With bye week this Friday, the Tigers get extra time to prepare to go on the road again against McIntosh on Sept. 27.

Central Lions vs. St. Luke’s Episcopal

The Central High School Lions hosted St. Luke’s in Hayneville Friday and fell to the Wildcats 6-29 under wet field conditions on home turf.

Kickoff was early, at 6:45 p.m. to the threat of inclement weather. Both teams defended their end zone well, allowing no score until the third quarter when St. Luke’s No. 23, Cooper Frampton completed a 25-yard pass to No. 6, Marcine Crawford. A true PAT followed by a 35-yard pass between St. Luke’s Jeremy Menhennett and Turner Tillman coupled with another good extra-point attempt pushed the Wildcats ahead 14-0.

Bryce Jordan picked up a Calhoun fumble in the third quarter and returned it for the Wildcat’s third touchdown before Menhennet rushed for a successful two-point conversion. The team’s final touchdown, was a one-yard touchdown by Menhennett finished off with a good PAT.

The Lions are doing a lot right and gained 206 yards total with 142 rushing. Defense completed 29 tackles and two interceptions as well, led by seniors Roderius Seawright, Jamarcus Webb and Eron Foster on tackles with senior Iyanis Wallace and sophomore Rakim McGee Jr. each clutching interceptions.

Central travels to Washington County on Sept. 20. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Lowndes Academy vs. Hooper Academy

The Lowndes Academy Rebels tamed area rival Hooper Academy Colts Friday, lassoing a 49-7 win on the road in Hope Hull.

Huston Hampton put the first points on the board returning a 62-yard punt from Watters Box in the first quarter. Jeremy Hardy, Jr. completed an 18-yard run to find the endzone, followed by a 42-yard dash by Crawford Dansby to end the first quarter with a 21-0 lead over the Colts.

Hardy gained two more touchdowns in the second quarter, racking up 54 yards in that period and 73 yards total to lead the Rebels offense with three touchdowns. Box kicked for the Rebel’s win, launching the ball over 338 yards total.

Ford Walker completed a 47-yard interception return, and Will Brasell ran 46 yards to widen the lead to 49-0 ahead of halftime.

The Colts would only gain one five-yard touchdown during the matchup.

Now 2-0, Lowndes Academy is ranked No. 2 in the Alabama Independent School Association Class 2A Region 1 behind Sparta Academy. The Rebels take on Sparta at home Friday with kickoff at 7 p.m.