Bob Jones races past Decatur
Miles Strickland runs for Bob Jones late in the Decatur game
(photo contributed/Tammie Stephenson)
MADISON- In a series between former region opponents, Bob Jones has dominated Decatur, and Friday night at Madison City Schools Stadium that trend continued as Bob Jones won 28-7 to open the season. It marks the sixth straight season in the series Bob Jones has won.
It was a breakout game for Bob Jones senior receiver Torrey Hunt. On the first play from scrimmage Hunt took a wide receiver screen pass from quarterback Jeremy Frye, juked his defender and raced 87 yards untouched to put Bob Jones up 7-0 after Matt Stephenson’s extra point.
For Hunt, it was his first career touchdown.
After Decatur went three and out, Santrez Burton blocked the punt and Tyrell Bradley scooped it up and ran it to the two yard line where Brad Anderson scored on the next play. Bob Jones led 13-0 after the missed extra point.
Hunt struck again as Frye was flushed from the pocket and found him open along the sideline. Hunt took it the distance of 55 yards with help from a block from Jonathan Rice. With 5:00 left in the first quarter Bob Jones led 19 -0.
Bob Jones led 21-0 after Frye hit Deondre Douglas on the two-point conversion.
Torrey Hunt runs after a pass catch
After the Bob Jones defense forced a punt, Frye went deep again finding Jonathan Rice on a 49 yard pass,then on fourth and 12 Frye passed to Rice for the touchdown.
Stephenson’s extra point made it 28-0 with six seconds left in the first quarter.
The score could have been worse. Hunt fumbled after a reception and run as he was hit hard. The Bob Jones defense twice held Decatur on downs in the second quarter.
“I felt pretty confident at halftime with the way our defense was playing,” said Hunt who showed breakaway speed.
He finished the night with five catches for 178 yards.
Frye played through some allergy and breathing problems. He had to come out with leg cramps briefly in the third quarter.
He completed 15 of 20 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns. His one interception in the third quarter set up Decatur’s only score. The interception was returned to the 12 yard line. Decatur quarterback Griffin McCollum scored on a twelve yard run on the next play.
The Bob Jones defense rose up and forced a fumble on a late Decatur drive. Deondre Douglas jumped on the loose ball.
Miles Strickland finally got the Patriots running game going with runs of 21 and 26 yards in the fourth quarter.
Bob Jones coach Kevin Rose stayed with his starters the entire game. Bob Jones’ offense generated 436 total yards and Decatur had only 267.
“We were having success throwing the ball early so we stayed with it,” Rose said. “We turned to the ground game late and got some good gains with Miles.”
“We have got two wins over two good teams so we have got some momentum going into the rivalry game against James Clemens. We have to clean up some penalty problems we had with holding and offsides but overall we played very well on both sides of the ball.”
Rose said it was good to see Hunt contribute.
“Torrey is a guy who played sparingly last season but we are counting on him a lot this year. He played great except the fumble.”
The special teams were much improved over last week for Bob Jones. Punter Mike Bernier had two punts downed inside the five yard line. He also boomed a 40-yarder with no return.
Kicker Matt Stephenson had several good kickoffs. He attempted a 33 yard field goal but it was partially blocked.
