By TAYLOR BECK, Sports Editor
Quarterback Baker Lyles and the Douglas Eagles turned its homecoming night into a statement win Friday, soaring past Brewer 49-22 in a Class 5A, Region 8 matchup at Arthur Jarvis Stadium.
The Eagles (5-3, 2-3) outscored the Patriots 28-8 over the final three quarters while piling up 355 total yards of offense — 176 rushing and 179 passing.
Lyles led the way, accounting for five total touchdowns. He completed 9-of-16 passes for 179 yards and three scores, while also rushing for 72 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.
Lyles opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run to cap a 56-yard drive, then connected with Judson Murray for a 12-yard touchdown after a Brewer fumble gave Douglas a short field. He added a 2-yard rushing score later in the first quarter to help the Eagles to a 21-14 lead.
Douglas began to take control in the second quarter. Lyles found Layton Culbert for a 17-yard touchdown pass to finish an 80-yard drive, then hit Treiy Crenshaw for a 16-yard score on the next possession to make it 35-14 at the half.
In the third quarter, the Eagle defense got in on the action when Culbert intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 42-14. Keilan Green added the finishing touch in the fourth with a 7-yard touchdown run.
Green finished with 77 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while Murray and Crenshaw each had three catches for 70 yards and a score.
Defensively, Culbert led the way with nine tackles and a pick-six, while Lyles also had nine tackles. Landon Stewart added seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. Maddox Duvall also had seven tackles. Murray contributed six tackles and an interception. Noah Williamson had 4 tackles and a sack.
“I love this team so much,” Douglas head coach Brandon Lyles said. “Coaching the game of football, you always hope you can see improvements throughout a season, and I feel this group has continued to fight and improve each week.
“We make mistakes, but our effort has been outstanding. Our coaching staff does a great job of getting the most out of our kids.
Douglas will close out region play next week at home against county rival Guntersville (7-1, 4-1).
“They [Guntersville] continue to be the standard in this county, so we know what we are up against,” Lyles said. “Hopefully our kids will continue to improve with a good week of practice.”
Eagles receiver Judson Murray (23) crosses the goal-line to score on a 12-yard pass from Baker Lyles against Brewer on Friday night. Douglas defeated the Patriots 49-22 and improved to 5-3 (2-3) on the season. Photo by Taylor Beck l The Leader
