From STAFF REPORTS
BOAZ — Behind a balanced offense and timely defense, the Pirates closed their regular season with a 34-21 victory over Oneonta at Dr. L.F. Corley Jr. Stadium, securing back-to-back eight-win seasons for the first time since 2002-03.
Already locked into the Class 5A, Region 8 No. 3 seed, Boaz improved to 8-2 behind four touchdown passes from quarterback Beau Bennett, who completed 17-of-22 attempts for 260 yards.
His first strike set the tone — a 66-yard bomb to Sage Bennett midway through the opening quarter. The duo later connected on a two-point conversion, and Sage finished the night with eight catches for 147 yards and a touchdown, plus 10 return yards for 155 all-purpose yards.
Oneonta answered with a 35-yard touchdown run by back Mason Chambers, who powered the Redskins with 124 rushing yards and two scores on 18 carries.
Boaz took control in the second quarter. Bennett found Dayton Porter for a 17-yard touchdown, and senior Presley Fant broke loose for a 21-yard rushing score to make it 20-7. Fant led the ground attack with 128 yards on 21 carries and added 25 receiving yards for 153 all-purpose.
Oneonta quarterback Greer Phillips tightened the game before halftime with a 6-yard TD pass to Maddox Byrd, who hauled in eight receptions for 129 yards.
The Pirates responded with their best stretch of the night coming out of the locker room.
Bennett delivered touchdown passes to Jay Patterson (37 yards) and Dawson Roden (12 yards) on back-to-back drives, stretching the lead to 34-14 late in the third.
Boaz’s defense — led by a five-sack performance as a unit — made those scores stand, holding Phillips to 170 passing yards on 28 attempts and just 4.5 yards per play overall for Oneonta.
The Redskins (5-5) added a late 2-yard TD from Chambers, but the Pirates ran out the clock and celebrated another season milestone: a program trending upward in Year 1 under head coach Luke Pruitt.
Boaz finished with 393 total yards — 260 through the air and 133 on the ground — while converting all three fourth-down attempts and allowing zero turnovers outside of a single lost fumble.
Next week, Boaz (8-2, 4-2) travels to face Russellville (6-4, 5-1) for its first-round matchup of the Class 5A State Playoffs.
Boaz’s Bradyn Bennet (10) looks for running room against the Oneonta defense Friday night. Photo by BENTLEY GRAY PHOTOGRAPHY l For The Leader
