Sumiton Christian wears down Gaylesville, 28-12

Gaylesville running back Jacob Gordon tries to break free from a couple of Sumiton Christian tackles on a run during their game on Thursday night. Photo by Shannon Fagan.

GAYLESVILLE – With the loss of senior running back Hunter Penney and junior quarterback Tanner Eads last week to injury, the Gaylesville Trojans were forced to put more on the shoulders of senior running back Jacob Gordon and sophomore backup quarterback Kyler Bradley against Sumiton Christian on Thursday night.

The two played admirably, but their performances weren’t enough against a stout Eagle defense in a 28-12 setback in Class 1A, Region 7 action.

Gordon ran for 103 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, while Bradley connected on a pair of passes, including an 80-yard scoring strike to junior fullback Keylon Higgins.

“Jacob was a real physical runner for us tonight. He brings a punch when he runs it,” Gaylesville coach Brian Knapp said. “And hat’s off to Kyler. He was thrown in the fire tonight, but I thought he managed the game. They did a good job of taking away the toss sweep. We had to run more inside and they made it difficult.”

The Eagles also capitalized on two Trojans turnovers and wore Gaylesville down at the end.

“That’s the sum total of it,” Knapp said. “In the end, I think they had more depth than us. We were missing some pieces tonight and it showed. We’re starting to get some wear and tear, but it is what it is. That’s what we get with our style of play, but hat’s off to them. They’ve got 21 upperclassmen and I think that had something to do with it as well.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Sumiton Christian (5-1, 2-1) put together a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive in which senior quarterback Jordon Robertson connected with junior receiver Samuel Reid Nix on a 24-yard touchdown pass with 2:39 remaining in the first half. Senior running back Jack Gable ran in for the 2-point conversion, giving the Eagles an 8-0 advantage.

Robertson led the Eagles by completing 9-of-14 pass attempts for 179 yards and two touchdowns.

But Gaylesville (4-3, 2-2) quickly countered on Bradley’s 80-yard touchdown connection with Higgins. Bradley’s tying 2-point pass fell out of Gordon’s reach, keeping the score at 8-6.

The Eagles found the end zone again just before the first half ended. A 68-yard Robertson-to-Ashton McClendon connection pulled Sumiton Christian inside the Trojan 10-yard line. Two plays later, senior running back Tyler Ingle scored from nine yards. Gable’s 2-point run was stopped short, but the Eagles held a 14-6 advantage at halftime.

Gaylesville’s defense came up with a stop to open the third quarter, leading to a promising Trojan drive, but the drive came to a halt when Gable recovered a Gordon fumble at the Eagle 34.

Six plays after the Trojan turnover, Robertson hit McClendon on a 31-yard scoring strike. Junior Kannen Defoor delivered on the 2-point conversion run, increasing the Eagle lead to 22-6 with 1:26 remaining in the third quarter.

McClendon led the Eagle pass catchers with three receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Another Trojan turnover proved costly early in the fourth quarter. In a bit of trickery, Higgins threw a pass, but it was intercepted by Sumiton senior defender Solomon Wood, who returned it inside Trojan territory to the 46. Three plays later, senior Eli Moon scored from a yard out. His rush for the 2-point conversion was stopped short, but the Eagles held a 28-6 lead with 10:43 to go in the game.

Gaylesville put together a 10-play, 65-yard drive in which Gordon scored from a yard away. Bradley’s pass on the 2-point try fell incomplete, keeping the score at 28-12.

The Trojan defense forced another Sumiton punt, but it came too little too late, as the offense ran out of time to score.

Gaylesville travels to rival Cedar Bluff on Friday. Sumiton Christian is at Appalachian.

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