Staff Reports

RAINBOW CITY – Spring Garden sophomore quarterback Chapel Pope threw two touchdown passes to senior receiver Cooper Austin, and ran for two more scores to lead Class 2A, No. 6 Spring Garden to a 36-7 Region 6 football win at Westbrook Christian on Friday.

Pope finished with 108 yards rushing on 15 carries. He was also 7-of-9 passing for 72 yards.

The Pope-to-Austin touchdown connections accounted for the first two Spring Garden scores of the game in the second quarter. They went for 4 and 30 yards to put the Panthers (7-0, 5-0) in front 14-0.

Pope scored his first touchdown on the ground on a 44-yard run 1:09 remaining in the first half. Larry Rogers accounted for the 2-point conversion, giving Spring Garden a 22-0 lead at halftime.

Pope added his second ground score on a 1-yard run with 7:02 left in the third quarter, providing the Panthers a 29-0 edge. Cam Welsh scored Spring Garden’s final touchdown on a 20-yard run with 2:50 left in the game.

The Warriors (2-5, 1-4) prevented the shutout on a Steven Barnes 30-yard touchdown catch with 4.8 seconds remaining for the final.

Cade Williams led the Panther defense with six tackles and a sack. Landon Gowens registered five tackles and a pair of sacks. Jacob Welsh finished with four tackles and two sacks.

Austin and Rogers both had an interception. Cam Welsh also recovered a fumble.

Spring Garden travels to Sand Rock on Friday.