Bob Jones outduels Sparkman in seven flag football overtimes

MADISON – Two fierce rivals clashed with a high school flag football playoff berth for the taking on a cold, windswept Tuesday night on Bob Jones’ campus. After four scoreless regulation quarters, the two old foes went to seven overtimes to settle the issue.

Previously dominant defenses suddenly opened in the extra stanzas, where the Lady Patriots subdued old foe Sparkman by getting a stop in the seventh OT for a 25-19 win that should clinch a postseason spot in 10-team Class 6A/7A, Region 8.

Meanwhile, the Lady Senators were eliminated from earning one of the four region playoff berths.

“Sparkman is a rival, and our games are always low scoring and close,” head coach Carmelesia Sullivan said. “This is the most (points) I think we’ve had. And the key – believing in each other and playing for each other.’’

Sparkman head coach James Arnette, who also serves as region coordinator this season, said both teams gave maximum effort.

“Absolutely,’’ he said. “I mean, its playoff implications, you know? Whoever wins the game pretty much gets a playoff spot. So, Bob Jones got the better of us this year. That’s part of it.’’

Entering Tuesday, Austin led the region standings at 5-1 with Bob Jones, Decatur and Lee all sharing 4-1 marks. The Lady Patriots improved to 5-1 with a late game still to play Tuesday night against Grissom that shouldn’t affect the playoff pecking order.

Sparkman is 3-4 in region action. Other records entering Tuesday: Huntsville (3-3), Grissom (2-3), Hazel Green (1-4), Mae Jemison (0-4) and Columbia (0-5).

Neither team scored in the first two overtimes, where each team gets possession with four plays to score from 10-yards out.

After that, Bob Jones quarterback Carson Horton tossed three TD passes and ran for another. Charity Buchanan caught two TD passes, and leading 25-19 the Lady Patriots got an interception to close the win on Senior Night.

“We just knew we had to beat Sparkman,’’ Buchanan said. “That’s what we were praying on – we had to beat Sparkman.’’

Bob Jones visits Austin in a regular-season finale Tuesday, Oct. 24 in a game that could determine the top region seeds for the playoffs.