Florala was ablaze with an offensive scream in the opening half. They celebrated their homecoming by winning 60-6 against the county Rival Pleasant Home in varsity football action on Friday evening.
Pleasant Home began the game at its own 22-yard line and lost the ball on one play. Florala received a 6-yard run by Rayshon Coleman before a fumble was returned to the ball. The defense of the home team forced an out-and-back, and a poor snap pushed the ball into the end zone to create an unintentional safety. After a great returning kickoff, Coleman passed a score of 57 yards and 58 yards for Christian Greasham. The kickoff was successful and provided the Wildcats an advantage of 9-0 with just 8:54 remaining in the first quarter. Chris Scott had a 1-yard run, but the Eagles lost the ball again.
Again, Florala (3-1, 2-1 1A Region 2) required just one play for a goal and extended its lead by 16-0. Elijah McMeans found an opening and raced 33 yards towards the goal line while Greasham kicked the PAT. Pleasant Home (1-3, 0-3) was struggling on offense, and experienced the turnover bug affecting them the third time, when Talan Warley was able to throw an interception for Brody Cox.
Beginning at their own 46-yard line The Wildcats got a bit of time off when they drove on. Coleman ran 11 yards on second-and-9 to earn a first down. A couple of plays after, Coleman went to the air and discovered McMeans in the open field for a 30-yard touchdown inside the zone of red. Coleman made the move happen with a 13-yard run. He completed the six-play run with a three-yard touchdown run. Greasham proved his mettle on the kickoff and extended his lead up to 23-0. The Eagles got some yardage during their next drive by completing a 12-yard pass of Warley for Walt Cook on second down just before the timeout ended. Warley was able to run for three yards on the fourth down, however a downs turnover came at 11:48, just before halftime.
Greyson West started the following sequence with a 6 yard run, and then he nabbed the 30-yard catch from Coleman to the 7-yard line. After a holding call and back-to-back failed completions, Coleman converted a fourth-and-goal by running 13 yards for a touchdown to the left side of. The kick was not successful and left the score at 29-0 at 9:05 into the first half.
Pleasant Home went three-and-out on the next possession, setting the stage for another fast drive by Florala. Coleman ran 15 yards towards the midfield stripe and McMeans then followed with a 50-yard slam to make it pay. Coleman was able to run during the 2-point convert, as the lead increased to 37-0 by the 5:35 mark. Warley started the next drive by completing a 7-yard pass Cook before grabbing an initial down with the 3-yard run. The drive ended in defeat to the Eagles and allowed the Wildcats one final first-half opportunity.
Coleman began his drive by throwing a 36-yard throw to Greasham and also scored a first down following an unconstitutional substitution was imposed on the defense. After a holding penalty, West had a 5-yard run and the chains shifted once more after Coleman throws a 35-yard touchdown to McMeans. Greasham finished the first half with a 18-yard touchdown and Coleman’s 2-point shot made for a 4-0 advantage at the end of the half.
Florala finished off the home scoring by scoring two scoring touchdowns during the final quarter. West scored a touchdown rushing and Greasham extended their lead up to 53-0 after the successful 2-point conversion. Ronald Johnson also found the end zone for a touchdown during the game as well, and Greasham’s punt made for a lead of 60-0 by the close 3rd. Pleasant Home averted the shutout thanks to a touchdown run by DaMarrion Parker in the final. The punt was ineffective and the game was over.
Both teams will be taking a break from regional play on the Friday of September. 29. Florala will go towards Samson (0-4) in the meantime, and Pleasant Home will host Zion Chapel (2-3).
The article Big first half propels Florala to victory over Pleasant Home, 60-6 was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.
