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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

The Lowndes Academy Rebels took advantage of their last shot to make the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) Class A Football Playoffs, Friday, Oct. 20 by defeating the Sparta Academy Warriors 41-8 on the road.

With the win, the Rebels improved to 1-3 in Class A Region 1 play and 4-4 overall.

“We played well, and I am happy for the kids in making the playoffs,” said Lowndes Academy head football coach Bob Taylor. “That was one of our goals this season.”

He called the road victory by his Rebels over the Warriors a “good game.”

The Rebels took control of this game early and led 41-0 after three quarters. The Warriors did not manage to light the scoreboard until the fourth quarter on a 23-yard pass and two-point conversion to make it a 41-8 final.

Scoring plays for the Rebels included:

First quarter: A John Morgan 2-yard run for a touchdown, a Jon Johnson 14-yard run for a touchdown and 2-point conversion and a Daniel Janes 9-yard run for a touchdown to put the Rebels up 20-0.

Second quarter: A Mason McCurdy 6-yard run for a touchdown and Jon Johnson kick and a Buddy Johnson 23-yard run for a touchdown and Jon Johnson kick to make it a 34-0 score.

And third quarter: A Drew Till 4-yard run for a touchdown followed by a Jon Johnson kick for a 41-0 lead.

The Warriors scored 8 points in the final quarter to make it a 41-8 final.

The Rebels amassed 290 yards of total offense, including 22 yards through the air and 268 yards on the ground.

The Warriors had 131 yards of total offense, including, 51 yards passing and 80 yards rushing.

McCurdy went one for three in passing for the Rebels for 22 yards. He also suffered one interception.

Jon Johnson led the Rebels in rushing with eight carriers for 148 yards and one touchdown, followed by John Morgan with four carries for 60 yards and a touchdown, Buddy Johnson with four carries for 33 yards and a touchdown, Janes with two carries for 23 yards and a touchdown, McCurdy with three carries for 9 yards and a touchdown and Till with one carry for 4 yards and a touchdown.

Janes caught one pass for the Rebels for 22 yards.

Lowndes Academy’s defense was led by Cole Crook with six tackles, two assists, two sacks and three tackles for loss, Buddy Johnson with four tackles, two assist and one tackle for loss, McCurdy with three tackles and one assist and Justin Hooks with two tackles, three assist and two tackles for loss. Carter Haggard had two tackles and one tackle for loss.

Lowndes Academy will end the regular season on the road at Coosa Valley Academy in a non-regional contest on Friday, Oct. 27.