Discovery loses to Muscle Shoals in championship game
Muscle Shoals defense chases Discovery quarterback Caden Rose (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)
MADISON- “It was a tough way to end the season.”
Those were the words of Discovery Middle Head Football Coach Len Lanier Thursday night after his previously undefeated Panther football team lost to Muscle Shoals 40-18 in the North Alabama Middle School Championship game. Discovery had won the championship game last year against Hartselle.
Discovery was confident heading into the game. They had defeated this same Muscle Shoals team in the opening game of the season. They then went 7-0 in the regular season.
Muscle Shoals took command early and scored on the first possession of the game. Quarterback Jackson Bratton scored a rushing touchdown from 11 yards out and the two point conversion put Muscle Shoals up 8-0. In the second quarter Logan Smothers ran for another touchdown to put Muscle Shoals up 14-0.
Smothers passed for the Trojans next touchdown to Keevon Hankins and a two point conversion put Muscle Shoals up 22-0, by far the biggest deficit Discovery had faced this season.
Discovery moved the ball but could not sustain drives. Quarterback Caden Rose hit Josh Lewis for 18 yards and then ran the option for another first down but the Panthers would turn the ball over on downs.
The pass rush had Rose on the run all game. He was shaken up but returned and hit Dylan Ray on a 23 yard touchdown pass to get DMS on the board. They trailed 22-6 at the half.
Discovery defense forced a fumble early in the third quarter. Rose shook off a big hit and a holding penalty and hit Ray again on a third and 25 from 35 yards out to get Discovery to 22-12.
Muscle Shoals showed their athleticism and had too much speed as Hankins broke for a big run. Another speedy back, Jacob Peters, scored from four yards out.
Rose tried to hit Ray again but the Trojan defense was ready and the pass was intercepted by Mark Sears.
Both teams added touchdowns late in the fourth quarter.
Discovery ends the season at 7-1 and back-to-back county champions.
Lanier has been working with this group for two years and that made the loss harder.
“Bob Jones will be getting a great group next season and I know they will be successful,” he said.
DMS Principal Eric Terrell, himself a former football coach, said that the football team, band, cheerleaders, and fans are commended for their hard work and an outstanding season.
“The Panthers had a great season and we are very proud of Coach Lanier, his staff, and all the players.”
