DEMOLITION AHEAD: Bob Jones rolls over Sparkman
Bob Jones quarterback Jeremy Frye runs for a touchdown in action against Sparkman
(Photo Contributed/Tammie Stephenson)
MADISON- Bob Jones was on a mission Friday night as they rolled to a 50-3 blowout win over Sparkman to go to 2-0 in Class 7A, Region 4 and 3-0 overall. Big plays were the difference as the Patriots scored 50 straight points after falling behind 3-0. It was the first time all season they trailed.
“I was hoping and expecting to play this good,” said Bob Jones head coach Kevin Rose who is now 6-0 against Sparkman. “We finally put two good halves of football together. Our offensive line played better and our receivers did a good job of blocking. We emphasized that this week blocking on the edge and the perimeter and staying with the block and we made some big plays.”
The big plays started early as Bob Jones scored in four plays after falling behind 3-0 on a Miller Matzek 47-yard field goal. Quarterback Jeremy Frye hit Jonathon Moss on a 26 yard touchdown pass and the Patrtiots led 6-3 after the extra point try was blocked.
Bob Jones got an interception by Brandon Alexander on a fourth and six pass by Sparkman quarterback Mason Edwards. The Patriots failed to capitalize when Miles Strickland fumbled through the end zone. The first quarter ended 6-3.
Late in the second quarter Frye scored on a 9-yard keeper and hit Jonathan Rice for the two point conversion. Bob Jones scored again just before halftime when Deondre Douglas scored on a 42-yard run.
Douglas again found the end zone on the first play of the second half, an 80 yard run on an end around. Douglas had his first big breakout game with 123 yards rushing on two carries.
“I really improved this week which is what Coach Rose was saying all week in practice. It was good blocks it wasn’t just me,” Douglas said.
Frye finished the game an efficient 8 for 17 passing for 120 yards. He added a 4 yard touchdown run in the third quarter in which Bob Jones scored 26 points.
But more importantly, he showed no ill effects from the asthma attack that caused him to miss over half the game last week.
“It feels a lot better,” Frye said. “ We played better as a team. We executed on Sparkman’s turnovers and did what the coaches asked us. Deondre had a great game. I wanted to see the spark out of him and he got his chance today.”
Frye retired at the 4:00 minute mark of the third quarter.
Miles Strickland broke the game wide open with a 55-yard touchdown run and and Brad Anderson added a 3 yard scoring run.
The Bob Jones kicking game was without Matt Stephenson due to an injury. Daniel Womble kicked off and also kicked a 42-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Otherwise Bob Jones was 3 for 6 on extra points.
Torrey Hunt had another big game. He caught three passes for 70 yards and added 36 yards rushing.
“I’m trusting my blocks. My boys are setting up wide open holes, its impossible to miss,” Hunt said. “When everyone is on the same page blocking, big plays will happen.”
Muddy field conditions dominated talk leading up to the game but it did not slow down Bob Jones receivers.
“There were times you felt like you were running in quicksand but I knew we were still going to be fast,” Hunt said. “It didn’t phase us, we still broke off big plays.”
Bob Jones racked up over 500 yards of total offense and was aided by six Sparkman turnovers. It was the largest margin of victory for Bob Jones since the 72-0 win over James Clemens in 2012.
Bob Jones, still number one ranked in 7A travels to sixth-ranked Gadsden City for a Region 4 showdown next Friday night. Gadsden City defeated Grissom 48-14 Friday night.
“Gadsden City has one of the best football teams in the state and that is the only way you can find out how good you are is by going on the road. It will be a long road trip at their place and it will be a playoff type atmosphere,” Rose said.
