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Zavion Carr

SMS wins back-to-back games

Contributed

Tallassee 32 - Beauregard 14
(Sept. 29)

Coming off of their first loss of the season against Pike Road, the SMS Tigers got back on the wining track after defeating the Sanford Middle School Hornets of Beauregard 32-14. The Tigers extended their record to 4-1 for the year with the win.

The Tigers took their first possession of the evening and found the endzone to take an early lead. Jaylin Daniels and Jacob Dantro provided the ground game on the drive and Gannon Reyes hit Tae Collins through the air twice to put the Tigers in the redzone. Daniels took a handoff through a gaping hole over the right side of the offensive line and powered his way in from 15 yards out for the 6-0 lead. Reyes hit Dantro through the air for the two-point conversion to push the lead to 8-0 midway through the opening quarter.

On their second possession of the game, the Tigers used the same balanced formula of running and passing to find paydirt. Playing their best game of the year, the Tigers offensive line paved the way for several Daniels runs and a Reyes to Dantro connection for 19 yards. Reyes powered his way into the endzone from two yards out and added the two-point conversion as well to push the Tiger lead to 16-0.

After hitting a long pass to bring the visitors to 16-6, the Hornets remaining first half possessions found sledding to be difficult. The defensive effort was highlighted by two big sacks by Zavion Carr and two big tackles for loss by Mason Bell. Jacob Ingram also chipped in with a big pass breakup to end the Hornets second drive.

The second half found the SMS defense as stingy as the first. On the Hornets first possession, the Tiger defenders stood up the Hornets’ big tailback and Dantro ripped it from his hands and took the pigskin back 32 yards for the touchdown. Daniels found a big hole off the right side to add the two-point conversion and the Tigers led 24-6 midway through the 3rd quarter.

After a sack by Reyes and a couple of big tackles by Carr and Bell, the Hornets were forced to punt. A botched snap resulted in the Tigers setting up inside the Hornet 20 and Collins took an inside handoff 15 yards for the score. Collins took the handoff again for the two-point conversion and the Tigers extended the lead to 32-6.

The fourth quarter saw the Tigers getting several young players in the game on both defense and offense. The young Tigers were led by Jacquiez Lackey as he rushed 5 times for 31 yards. Russell Phillips stepped in behind center and commanded the offense well. John Burnham, Joseph Gantt, and Jacquavious Lackey defended several passes in the fourth as the Hornets repeatedly attempted to move the ball through the air.

For the evening, the Tigers rushing attack was lead by Daniels with 11 carries for 76 yards and Dantro with 6 carries for 24 yards. Reyes was 3 of 7 for 41 yards. The Tiger defense was led by Bell with 8 tackles (2 TFL) and Carr with 5 tackles (2 sacks).

Tallassee 38 - Holtville 0
(Oct.3)

The Tigers from Southside Middle School took control of the game early and often, cruising to a 38-0 victory against the visiting Bulldogs of Holtville. The Bulldogs won the toss and deferred their option to the second half, putting the Tigers on offense to begin the first quarter.

The Tigers struck on the third play from scrimmage as tailback Jalyn Daniels took a handoff over the left side of the offensive line and sprinted 53 yards to the endzone to put the home team up 6-0. Jacob Dantro added the two-point conversion to push the lead to 8-0.

A quick three and out by the Tiger defense put the purple and gold back in business near their own 40 yard line. On the second play of the drive, Tae Collins took a handoff and, behind a wall of blockers on the left side, found daylight and raced 59 yards to the house to extend the lead to 14-0. Zavion Carr powered his way in for the two-point conversion to extend the lead to 16-0.

Behind Trace Meek, Mason Bell, and Zavion Carr, the Tiger defense again stuffed the Bulldog offense and turned the ball back over to the offense. The Tigers wasted no time in padding their lead as quarterback Gannon Reyes dropped back and found Collins streaking down the left sideline for a 37 yard TD pass. Daniels took a handoff and slithered in for the two-point conversion as the home standing Tigers closed out the quarter leading 24-0.

The Bulldogs continued to struggle as, led by Bell and Carr, the Tiger defense continued to stuff any offensive momentum that the visitors looked to mount in the second quarter. Sandwiched between two Bulldog possessions, the lone Tiger drive ended with a Reyes to Daniels connection for six. After faking the jet sweep to Collins, Reyes dropped in a 23 yard TD pass to Daniels who ran a perfect wheel route out of the backfield. The two-point conversion failed and the Tigers ended the half with a commanding 30-0 lead.

The second half script defensively remained the same as the Tigers would not allow the Dogs to find the endzone. Offensively, the Tigers would score a final touchdown late in the third as Carr took a handoff around the left end and scampered 72 yards for the final score of the evening. Dantro found his way into the endzone for the conversion and the Tigers led 38-0.

Offensively, the Tigers rushed for a season high 283 yards with Daniels (74 yds), Collins (67 yds), and Carr (81 yds) leading the way. Reyes was 2 of 3 through the air for 60 yards and 2 TDs.

The Tiger defense was led by Carr with 8 tackles (1 sack), Bell (10 tackles), and Dantro (7 tackles, fumble recovery). Other Tigers contributing to the defensive cause were Reyes with 5 tackles, Meek with 4 tackles, Sergio Diego with 4 tackles, Will Smith with 3 tackles, and Jacob Ingram and Jaquavious Lackey with a tackle and pass breakup a piece.

With the win the Tigers extend their season record to 5-1.

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