Bob Jones escapes Decatur with a win, stays unbeaten
Clay Styles brings down Decatur’s Anfernee Wallace as Julian Lewis (92) and Brandon Davis (9)closes
(CONTRIBUTED/CINDY HESS
DECATUR- It is never easy to go to Decatur and get a win against one of the most storied football programs in North Alabama, but Bob Jones did just that on Friday night as the Patriots claimed a hard fought 14-7 win over Decatur in a Class 6A, Region 8 game.
The win puts 6A fifth-ranked Bob Jones firmly in control of Region 8 at 4-0 and 6-0 overall. Bob Jones head coach Kevin Rose is now 5-0 against Decatur.
The Patriots held on despite being outgained in the fourth quarter. The defense came up with one big stop after another including a final Decatur drive that reached the 21-yard line but ended when Decatur quarterback Jackson Fite overthrew an open receiver on fourth-and-ten.
After giving up 42 points and over 300 yards rushing last week, Rose said he made some defensive adjustments for this game.
“We ran in the right gap,” Rose said. “If you run in the wrong gap against a fast back bad things happen. We talked all week about instead of just playing hard let’s play technique. Let’s be in the right gap and execute. We gave up one long run but other than that we didn’t give up anything.”
Decatur back Anfernee Wallace broke a sweep for 49 yards in the third quarter on which the Bob Jones defense was slow to react. Two plays later Mark Thompson ran 2 yards for Decatur’s only touchdown to make it 14-7.
Bob Jones got on the board first with a 27-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jeremy Frye to Roderick Randolph. The Patriots carried the 7-0 lead into the second quarter.
Also in the first half, Decatur tried a fake punt as Fite passed to a streaking receiver but Ryan Crooks cut the receiver as he was making the catch. Bob Jones couldn’t do anything with the break as Tyler Whalen’s fourth down pass went incomplete. Two holding penalties proved costly including one in the final minute of the first half.
Decatur had less than 100 yards of offense at halftime. Bob Jones quarterback Jeremy Frye struggled with the passing game after the touchdown pass, completing 5 of 14 passes for 84 yards. He threw a costly interception in the third quarter at Decatur’s 17 yard line.
Ryan Crooks put Bob Jones up 14-0 with a 68 yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Defensive linemen Brandon Davis and Kenneth Turney combined for a sack of Fite who was pressured all game but often escaped for positive yardage. Fite, a 3 year starter also dropped a punt snap and Bob Jones took over at the 28 yard line but could not convert. Bob Jones failed to convert on three fourth down attempts.
Christian Hess came up with a big interception for Bob Jones as he outfought Decatur’s top receiver Trey Hayes for a pass at 9:30 in the fourth quarter.
“Christian has been a good cover corner for us all year,” Rose said. “People take shots at him but he is always in good position. He was in great position and got a pick.”
Jay Rogers against Decatur
Jay Rogers and Frye ran for big first downs trying to run out the clock but the drive stalled at the Decatur 44. An 11 yard punt by Mike Bernier didn’t help.
Brandon Davis had a big ankle tackle of Wallace on Decatur’s final drive. Fite tested Jarek Taylor on two throws into the end zone but Taylor made the plays on them both.
Bob Jones also got a big game from David Norris at linebacker who stepped up as Nick Holman played through a nagging shoulder injury. Norris pressured Fite all game.
“He is tall and long and knew how to read the hole,” Norris said. “He got away from me a few times.”
Fite was only 11 of 28 passing for 88 yards. Wallace was held to 84 yards on 19 carries.
With his offense misfiring, Rose said he put the game in the hands of his defense.
“They kept coming, we knew they would but our defense answered the bell every time. If they were going to beat us they would have to beat our defense.”
Bob Jones now returns home for Homecoming next Friday night against Sparkman.
