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Tyler Ellis attempts to pass on Friday night.
Photos by Kyle Thornton.

THS season ends in Greenville

By Michael Butler

Tallassee's return to the post-season did not go well. The Tigers lost 32-0 at Greenville on Friday night.

The first-round game was Tallassee's first playoff game in four years. It was the first playoff game for every player in a purple and gold uniform.

"There's only one team that's going to end the season with a win and that's the state champs, so we knew this was a possibility," head coach Mike Battles said.

The Tigers (7-3) fell behind 12-0 in the first quarter with two quick scores in just over a 90-second span. Andre Davidson hit Javonte Herbert on third down from the THS eight for the game's first points. After a three-and-out on Tallassee's next possession, Jonathan Purifoy scooped and scored on a blocked Clayten Gough punt.

Purifoy picked off a Tyler Ellis pass that set up the first score of the second half - a two-yard run by Ronald Davis. The next two touchdowns were passes from Davidson to Laquan Robinson of 52 and 12 yards.

"My hat's off to them," Battles added. "They've got a good football team and they were the better team tonight. We never could get anything going on offense. A lot of it had to do with them. They've got a real fast and real big defense. We ran into a good football team."

Tallassee reached the red zone on two drives in the second quarter. The first ended with Robinson intercepting an Ellis pass attempt to Jalyn Daniels on 4th and 7 from the 19. The second drive ended with a missed 28-yard field goal try by Clay Johnson with less than two minutes remaing in the half.

The Tigers crossed the 50-yard line just twice in the second half.

"The defense played well in the first half," said Battles. "They just got tired. We left them out there too long. They played hard."

Ellis was the game's leading rusher with 61 yards on 9 carries. Jalyn Daniels had 44 yards on 12 attempts. Daniels finished the season with 1,421 yards on 209 carries with 20 TDs.

The loss ended Tallassee's six-game win streak. It was the first shutout of a THS team since a 33-0 loss to Central of Clay County last season. The 7-3 record is the best since 2017 (10-2).

"The thing about the playoffs is the finality is so sudden. It's tough. This has been a really good senior class. They've made Tallassee proud. They won a share of the region championship (and) got us back into the playoffs. It'll sting a bit, but they'll look back on all the good stuff they did."

*View Photos by Kyle Thornton