Tyler Ellis in 2021 vs. this week's opponent, Clay County. Ellis ran for three scores in Tallassee's win on Friday vs. BTW in Tuskegee. Photo by Kyle Thornton

Second-half turnaround puts THS over the top

By Michael Butler

It was a tale of two halves on Friday night. The second one mattered the most. Tallassee overcame a 12-0 halfime deficit with 21 unanswered points in a 21-12 win over Booker T. Washintgon in Tuskegee.

"We preached it all week, but it's a hard thing to come back from an emotional game," said Tallassee head coach Mike Battles referring to the season-opening win vs. Reeltown and the team's slow start. "We just couldn't get anything going."

The Eagles built the early lead with two touchdown passes by EJ Hall, but then Tallassee senior quarterback Tyler Ellis took over.

Ellis directed a 75-yard scoring drive to start the third quarter. Nine of the ten plays were runs including an 18-yard jaunt by Ellis to put THS on the scoreboard.

The Tigers struck again late in the period with a three-play, 60-yard drive. The big play was a 46-yard completion from Ellis to DJ Leonard. Ellis followed with an 11-yard run to set up first-and-goal. The next play was a another run by the QB from three yards out tying it at 12-12. He then converted the two-point play to give Tallassee its first lead, 14-12.

Tallassee put it away with another scoring run by Ellis of five yards, capping a 52-yard, 10-play drive. Alex Carswell's extra point made it a two-possession game.

"In the second half, there really weren't a lot of adjustments. We just needed to execute," Battles added. "We turned it on and made a couple of big plays."

Ellis ended the night with 124 yards on 18 carries and all three of Tallassee's TDs. He was 7-of-12 passing for 85 yards.

"Tyler did what he did last week," said Battles. "The offense took over. Our defense made some stops. They're a really good football team. Our kids had to fight and claw. We didn't play our best game, but I'll take a bad win over a great loss any day of the week."

Tallassee (2-0) opens region play this week at home vs. Central of Clay County, Friday at 7 p.m. The Tigers won last year at J. E. "Hot" O'Brien Stadium 39-28 to earn a share of the region championship with the Volunteers.

Score 94.7/Hit 106.9 will have live coverage beginning at 6. Audio streaming is available at: www.1300wtls.com with an audio simulcast on Spectrum Cable Channel 340. Video is streamed on Tallassee Times TV through YouTube.