FROM STAFF REPORTS
ALBERTVILLE — As bands of rain and wind descended on McCord Field Friday night, Albertville withstood a storm of a different kind as it held back a furious rally to defeat Lee of Huntsville, 24-19.
The Aggies improved to 3-4, 1-4 in the area. The Generals fell to 1-6, 0-5 in area play.
Coach Adam Winegarden said he didn’t think the weather dictated the outcome in the later stages of the game as much as a gritty defense that held Lee on fourth down twice in the second half, once with the game on the line in its final minute.
“I think our defense stepped it up big time,” he said. “Our offense put them in some bad spots, but the defense was the key to the game.”
Lee had a chance to take the lead with less than a minute left in the game, driving the ball to the Albertville 44, before two incomplete passes ended the Generals’ last scoring threat.
The rally was quite a change from midway through the third quarter, when the Aggies were firmly in command, 24-7. But beginning in the fourth, Lee began to claw its way back, taking advantage of a turnover and field position.
The Generals drew closer following a fumble recovery at the Albertville 38 as the final period began. Eight plays later, John Jordan ran it in from 11 yards out, and Lee trailed 24-13 with 8:05 left. The Aggies couldn’t gain a first down on their next position, and Lee regained the ball on the Albertville 40 on the punt. Two plays later, Jamane Blake busted off a 40-yard touchdown run. A failed two-point conversion meant Lee trailed 24-19, with only 5:32 left in the game, but that was as close as they would get.
Albertville got points in its first drive but could have gotten more. Taking nearly five minutes off the clock, the Aggies drove from their own 48 down to the 2-yard-line, but a string of penalties backed it up to the 19. Christian Bravo nailed a 36-yard field goal, and Albertville led 3-0 with 5:50 left in the first.
The home town team’s third possession was quick and profitable. Getting the ball on the Albertville 41, C.J. Zuniga found a streaking Cam Bollinger for a 59-yard touchdown pass. Bravo’s kick gave the Aggies a 10-0 lead.
The Aggies’ next drive was more methodical. Getting the ball with 4:14 left in the first half, the Aggies relied on first down runs by Ben Tomez and Eugensley Curant, moving the ball down the field in eight plays. When Bollinger ran it in from 8 yards out, Albertville seemed firmly in command, 17-0, with just over two minutes left.
And the Aggies looked to extend the lead when they got the ball back with 57 seconds left on their own 49. But Lee’s J’Kavion Clayton returned an Aggie fumble 59 yards for the touchdown, and Jayden Battles’ extra point narrowed the lead to 17-7. Lee then recovered a fumble of the ensuing kickoff at the Albertville 32. On the next play, Lee scored another touchdown, but it was wiped off the board by a holding call. An interception by the Aggies ended the scoring threat and the half.
Albertville received the second half kickoff and put together a 10-play drive that consumed about four minutes of clock time, led by the hard running of Curant, who ended the drive with a 16-yard touchdown scamper. Bravo’s extra-point gave the Aggies all the points they would need.
Albertville travels to Columbia next Friday.
