Patriots demolish Senators in rival game
BY JIM SANDOVAL / SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
With a victory over the visiting Sparkman Senators coupled with a Hazel Green victory over Decatur, the Bob Jones Patriots clinched the Region 8 championship, guaranteeing a home game to begin the playoffs.
After scoring 307 points through their first 7 games the Patriots have risen to number 5 in the state rankings and showed why they deserve the ranking defeating rival Sparkman 50-7.
Bob Jones scored early and often, taking the opening kickoff and marching 65 yards in 9 plays with Jeffrey Moss hitting Reggie Ragland over the top of the defender in the corner of the end zone for the opening score. A trick play worked on the ensuing conversion, with holder Seth Parker flipping the ball to kicker Andrew Dunn. Dunn picked up the ball on a bounce and scampered into the end zone for the two point conversion and an 8-0 lead.
On Sparkman’s first offensive possession Drew Davis intercepted a pass returning it to the Sparkman 32. On the next play the Patriots performed a little razzle-dazzle, A double reverse and then a pitch back to quarterback Moss led to Moss hitting Jemel Harper with a 32-yard touchdown pass and a 15-0 lead.
Sparkman went three and out and the Patriots again marched down the field, 10 plays and 45 yards with Nick Richardson catching a touchdown pass from Moss for a 22-0 first quarter lead.
Another three and out for Sparkman gave Bob Jones the ball on the 49. A two-play drive gave the Patriots a 29-0 lead. Kevin Wright busted a 26-yard run before he passed to Ryan Crooks for the 25 yard scoring play on a halfback option.
Another defensive stop gave the Patriots the ball on the 42 where it took just three plays to find the end zone again. An incomplete pass followed by 14 yard run by Jay Rogers set up a Moss pass to a wide open Richardson in the middle of the end zone for a 36-0 lead.
The Patriots scored twice more before the half, with Nick Beavers taking a shovel pass and racing 27 yards and backup quarterback Trey Bates firing a strike of 15 yards to Marcus Wiles for the 50-0 halftime lead.
Sparkman was finally able to put together a scoring drive in the third quarter with Grant Banks hitting Tyler Caldwell for the Senators only score and the 50-7 final.
Linebacker/Receiver Reggie Ragland was honored in the afternoon before the game when the American Family Insurance Selection Tour for the Under Armour All-American High School Football Game visited Bob Jones. Ragland, a Bob Jones senior, was formally presented with an honorary game jersey commemorating his selection to the 2012 Under Armour All Star Game.
With the victory Bob Jones rises to 8-0 (6-0 in Region 8) while Sparkman falls to 0-8 (0-6). Next Friday Bob Jones travels to face Decatur before finishing the season in what could be a preview of a playoff game against Hoover. Sparkman finishes the season traveling to Buckhorn and then hosting Minor.
