Straughn commemorated fifty years in football and ended the fifth-ranked Houston Academy’s 15-game normal season streak of winning by delivering the 35-21 win at home on Friday evening.
SHS The Head Coach Ashley Kilcrease felt his team had a good plan for the game.
“Houston Academy was scoring scores of points, and was playing well on defense. There’s nothing more to say about our students or our coaching staff. I’m extremely satisfied with our team for their belief in our plan and rallied to implement it this evening. I explained to them that the good Lord isn’t always able to allow us to have what we need (after being defeated by Ariton) and instead gives us the things we require. We needed to be humble and started working at the practice this week. It’s a solid football team that we beat. Although the region is far from being over, it gives an advantage. The new Brockton will be significantly improved when we play our final road game this week, and we’ll have be fully prepared for the game,” Kilcrease said.
The Tigers (5-1 4-1, 3A Region 2 4-0) were ablaze on the opening phase of their game as Layne Grantham gashed for a score of 79 yards. Brenden Bartholomew scored the pAT for a 7-0 advantage just 20 second into the game. The Raiders (5-1 3-1) were limited to two four-yard runs by Brady Whigham and went three-and-out.
Beginning at the 48-yard line, Grant Barnes had two runs and converted third-and-3. After a 7-yard first-down jog by Grantham, Barnes moved the chains on another 6-yard run. Three plays after that, it was third-and-10 on the 20. Houston Academy was poised to get a stop however, it wasn’t in the cards, as Parker Black made a stellar 19-yard catch on the 1. Grantham reached over the line of goal on a second down after which Bartholomew did his best to extend his lead up to 14-0 at 4:41 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Raiders got their first down on their next drive, thanks of an illegal penalty. However, they the defense forced punts. The Tigers were held deep on their own 9-yard line. Barnes ran 15 yards to give them some breathing room while Charlie Jordan converted a third-and-2 by running 6 yards. In the aftermath of a holding penalty Grantham was rewarded with a 16-yard jog on the final second quarter play. The second quarter began with a quick start, Clark Jordan kept the running game going by grabbing an 18-yard catch and a first-down across the middle. Grantham also moved the chains at a third-and-4 by throwing a 36-yard touchdown pass towards Black at the 5 of the opponent. A missed pass in the final seconds resulted in an off-distance penalty of half as well as Barnes scored a touchdown of 3 yards on a run. Bartholomew kicked in the extra point for a 21-1 lead at 9:20 left until halftime.
Houston Academy opened its next series on the 34-yard line. The team quickly scored two first downs using fourteen-yard passes by Kadyn Mitchell Camden Dyer and Brayden Eubanks. Mitchell took the ball on third-and-10 by an impressive 16-yard run to the home side 8. Eli Guilford came up with massive sacks for an injury however, Mitchell scored a 21-yard touchdown and reduced the gap to 21-6. The kickoff was wide left at 3:53 in the 2nd.
The Tigers did not intend to let their guard down and they were dealt a final blow prior to halftime. Barnes scored a third-and-9 conversion with an impressive 34-yard run, and Charlie Jordan followed suit with 22 yards of catching the opposition’s 8. The Raiders nearly held off on third-and-1 but were again stunned when Grantham made an 11-yard touchdown pass towards Clark Jordan in the corner of the end zone. Bartholomew’s fourth kick made the score at halftime 28-6.
Houston Academy opened the second half with a first down. The ball was crossed over midfield, but Ryan Cobb made a clutch recovery of a fumble. Straughn was a gambler on fourth-and-1 and did not turn the ball over during downs.
The second drive got underway with M.J. Dauphin delivered the boom of an tackle. Mitchell was able to recover for a 15-yard catch to Dyer just two minutes after. After a six-yard run by Judson Bailey on second-and-1 The Raiders extended their lead to 28-14 at 2:18 at the end of third. Dyer scored a three-yard touchdown run, and the 2-point attempt was successful. The Tigers came back by launching a powerful running attack. Barnes was the primary beneficiary of the runs, completing five runs for an average of 61 yards. The last was a 34-yard touchdown in which Bartholomew took the uprights off five times for a 35-21 lead at 8:55 remaining in the game.
Houston Academy did not back down and only needed six minutes to get to the goal line again. Mitchell discovered Eubanks in the open field for a touchdown catch of 33 yards and the PAT ended the scoring. Straughn began to take over and whirled up the clock, making it to the red zone on the 19-yard line before joining in the win formation.
The Tigers travel for the last time of their regular schedule on Friday, October. 13 against New Brockton (1-5, 1-4).
The article Straughn handing HA the first defeat in a shocking loss 35-21 was first published at The Andalusia Star-News.
