Seniors lead Bob Jones’ win over Sparkman on their special night
MADISON- Everywhere you looked Friday night there were seniors stepping up playing beyond their normal limits to lead Bob Jones to a hard-fought 17-14 region win over previously unbeaten Sparkman.
Gavin Lewis played both ways and had to change from his #90 to #60 to play tackle on offense. Isaiah Hatchett scoring a touchdown and going over 100 all-purpose yards in punt and kickoff returns. Jalen Williams picking up a key third down to runout the clock in the final minutes. Demontrez Brown moving to running back, catching a touchdown pass, and a 50- yard pass play to set up another touchdown. Kade Koler leading the defense to two turnover on downs in the final quarter. The list goes on and on.
Sparkman led most of the first half as Hunter Gibson got off to a fast start. He scored on a 39-yard gallop and ran for 70 yards in the first half alone. Bob Jones scored after Hatchett returned a punt to the 12-yard line. Jalen Williams ran it in from the one.
Sparkman quarterback Devin Kimbrough moved his team to a go-ahead touchdown finding Rondell Cole on two long passes in the third quarter and Gibson scored from eight yards out.
But punting proved to be the Senators undoing. First a snap went over the punters head. Next the punter bobbled the ball then in the fourth quarter a snap went out of the end zone for a safety.
Bob Jones got tackle Colby Morrell back but played without several starters.
“We didn’t find out our starting linebacker Nick Santillo could not play until game time,” said Kevin Rose who won his 75th game as Bob Jones head coach. “Martin McCoy and Luke Koger played in there at linebacker. We had to play Gavin Lewis both ways. John Michael Riley played a little bit of everywhere. Everybody contributed. To hold them to 14 points was very impressive.”
Sparkman entered the game averaging 42 points a game.
Bob Jones stayed on the ground running to their right most of the game.
Jordan Aycock and Lewis were clearing the way on the right side in the critical fourth quarter.
Caden Rose hit Brown on a 7-yard touchdown pass plus John Michael Riley hit Dylan Ray for the two-point conversion to give Bob Jones their first lead at 17-14.
The defense came up with a turnover on downs as Kimbrough elected to keep it on fourth and four.
“Another great job by Coach Styles and the defense. They held James Clemens to seven points from scrimmage and holding Sparkman to 14. It’s been a tough stretch,” Rose said.
Despite missing two days of school this week to Hurricane Irma Rose said the team really didn’t miss much practice time and it showed as they held penalties to a minimum.
It is the second week in a row Bob Jones has knocked off previously unbeaten region opponents.
Before the game 20 seniors were recognized.
The Patriots will face Huntsville in another region game next Thursday at Louis Crews Stadium at Alabama A&M.
