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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal
The Lowndes Academy Rebels fell to Clark Prep in a regional contest at home 41-26, Friday, Oct. 12, to go 4-4 overall and 1-3 in AISA, AA Region 2 play.

The Rebels honored their 1968 Class1A state championship team and cheerleaders at halftime. But the Clark Prep Gators more than likely knocked Lowndes out of the playoff picture for 2018.

Despite falling in what was a critical playoff picture game, the Rebels played well and had their chances to win.

Lowndes head football coach Shane Moye said, “We played hard. We had some chances in the first half. We dropped a touchdown pass. And right before the half with first and goal and 10 seconds (left on the clock) we had a chance to score in two plays and didn’t do it.”

He also noted that in the third quarter with fourth and goal from the 3-yard line the Rebels failed to score again. With those scores, he said his Rebels would have won the game.

Moye acknowledged that Friday’s loss may have eliminated his team from the playoffs. But he said, “We’ve got to have some help next week to see what happens.”

The Rebels will go on the road Friday, Oct. 19 to face regional opponent Escambia.

Statistically, the Rebels hung tough with the Gators with 331yards total offense compared to 400 total yards for the visitors.

Lowndes edged the Gators through the air with 226 yards passing to 214 yards. But the Gators out rushed by the Rebels 186 yards to 105 yards for the Rebels on the ground.

The Gators struck first on a 25-yard pass play for touchdown and extra point kick to lead 7-0 in the first quarter. But Lowndes responded with a 5-yard touchdown strike from Tyler Smith toe Zack Miller in the second quarter. The point after kick failed, however, and the Rebels trailed 7-6.

The Gators would up their lead to 21-6 at the half on a 13-yard pass play and extra point kick and a 56-yard pass play and kick.

The Gators would extend the lead again in the third quarter on a 68-yard run to go up 27-6.

Lowndes responded with an 11-yard Trevor Haney run and Smith run for a 2-point conversion to close the gap to 27-14. But the Gators would score again on a 47-yard pass play and kick to go up 34-14 still in the third quarter.

The Gators and Rebels would swap scores down the stretch.

Haney took in a 34-yard pass from Smith to close the score to 34-20 in the fourth period before the Gators would score on an 18-yard run and kick to go up 41-20. And Will Cannon would close out the scoring for the Rebels and the game with a 44-yard pass reception from Smith to make the final 41-26 in favor of the Gators.

On the night, Lowndes quarterback Smith completed 21 of 35 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. But he also tossed one interception.

Smith led the Rebels in rushing with 11 carries for 52 yards followed by Haney with 14 carries for 47 yards and one touchdown.

The Rebels’ Mason McCurdy caught five passes for 59 yards; Haney caught five passes for 46 yards and a touchdown; Cannon caught one pass for 44 yards and a touchdown; and Miller caught five passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. Daniel Janes caught four passes for 42 yards.

McCurdy had eight tackles and three assists, Gus Page had five tackles and three assists, and Daniel Callaway had five tackles, one assist and a tackle for loss; while Landon Hooper had two tackles, one assist and one tackle for loss.

In other Oct. 12 football action:

The Calhoun Tigers fell to regional foe Goshen at home 34-0 to go 0-7 and 0-5 in Class2A Region 3. But Calhoun head coach Ervin Starr called Friday’s contest “the most complete best executed game Calhoun has played so far this season.”

Travon Brown ran for 126 yards on 11 carries and went 8 for 19 passing for 113 yards.

The Tigers got into scoring range on Goshen four times in the contest, but failed to cross the goal line.

And the Tigers held an opponent to less than 40 points for the first time all year.

Starr said, “Missed tackles and numerous dropped passes kept the Tigers from being in a better position to be competitive.”

Calhoun will travel to Luverne on Friday for another regional contest.

And the Central Lions fell to regional foe Zion Chapel at home for homecoming 27-12 to go 0-7 and 0-5 in Class 2A Region. 3.

The Lions will travel to face another regional opponent in Goshen Friday night.