Bob Jones rolls past Huntsville to clinch region title

Jonathon Moss runs after a catch against Huntsville (Contributed/ Tammie Stephenson)

MADISON- After being grounded by rain and wind last week, the Bob Jones offense got a tune up for the stretch run with a 45-14 win over Huntsville. The Patriots (8-0, 6-0 region) clinch first place in Class 7A, Region 4.

Huntsville could not stop Miles Strickland as the senior sprinted 53 yards on the first play and scored from two yards on the next play. Matthew Stephenson booted the first of 6 extra points in the game.

Bob Jones struck again quickly when quarterback Brady Polson hit Strickland wide open from 24 yards out. Huntsville’s Mathew Newlin got the Panthers on the board with a 33 yard touchdown pass but Polson passed to Jonathon Moss for a 10-yard touchdown and Bob Jones led 21-7.

Polson and Moss hooked up again on a fourth down from 10 yards out to make it 28-7. After a short Huntsville punt Strickland scored from a yard out to close the half.

In one half of work, Strickland finished with 86 yards rushing on 13 carries.

Jonathon Moss led the receivers with 64 yards on 4 catches. Milkhi Stewart also had a good game with 3 catches for 59 yards and a second half touchdown.

“We played about as well as we have all year against a good football team,” said Bob Jones head football coach Kevin Rose. “We stressed being disciplined and we executed in all three phases of the game.”

Defensively, Milkyle Stewart had an interception, his second of the year. Another highlight was Matthew Stephenson’s successful 42-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

Health-wise Bob Jones is at full strength, pretty amazing Rose said considering they have played nine straight weeks.

“We have played a lot of kids. When you play a bunch of people and take care of your players you can get here healthy. It is extremely important. Teams that can stay healthy keep the kids excited about improving and are the ones that have got a chance.”

Bob Jones faces a stiff test this week as they go to Hazel Green to close out Region 4 play. Hazel Green has won 5 straight games and clinched a playoff spot.

Rose’s teams have not fared well there. In 2012 Hazel Green beat Bob Jones 42-14, it remains the worst loss in a region game in the Kevin Rose era at Bob Jones.