Taylor Beck, Sports Editor
ALBERTVILLE — Despite pitching a second-half shutout, the Asbury Rams couldn’t overcome a first-quarter offensive explosion by the Gaston Bulldogs, dropping their season opener 34-6.
When the clock hit all zeros at Rams Stadium, Asbury head coach Matt Harris said his team played much better than the outcome shown on the scoreboard.
“That score is not indicative of how well we played — how much improvement we’ve made,” Harris said. “We grew a lot in a week, and we’re just gonna keep going. We’re just going to keep chopping wood and keep fighting.
“Our guys right here, man they’re gonna fight,” he added. “We’re gonna slip up and win one…We’re gonna get one, and the kids are gonna earn it.”
Gaston jumped out to a 22-0 first-quarter lead thanks to a trio of big-time plays from quarterback Jayce Stephens.
The Bulldogs received the opening kickoff, and in just two plays took an 8-0 lead when Stephens threw a 50-yard strike to Domonique Heard for a touchdown with 9:53 to play. (2-point conversion good.)
Following an Asbury three-and-out, Gaston quickly scored again — this time a 42-yard dagger from Stephens to Heard to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead with 6:39 remaining. (2-point conversion failed.)
Just a few minutes later, Stephens threw his third touchdown pass of the night to Tavis Brown, widening the Bulldogs’ lead to 22-0. (2-point conversion good.)
Facing a three-score deficit, Asbury ended the opening quarter with newfound momentum on offense. The Rams drove the ball down inside the Gaston 15-yard line with the end zone in sight. But on the first play of the second quarter, the Rams lost the football. It was picked up by Gaston’s Stephens and returned 75 yards for a touchdown. Asbury trailed 28-0 after another failed 2-point conversion from the Bulldogs.
After trading possessions, Gaston rang up its final points of the game with just 2 seconds remaining in the first half to take a 34-0 lead into the locker room. This time it was Bulldogs running back Trey Johnson who capped off a 60-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.
Asbury showed resilience and fight in the second half by shutting out the Bulldogs the rest of the way on defense, and stringing together quality drives on offense.
“It’s something that we have focused on,” Harris said. “We are not going to shut down. We’re not gonna quit. And our kids have bought into that. Regardless of what that thing [scoreboard] says, the kids are not going to quit. And they’re getting better. Every opportunity, every play we want to take to get better.”
In the third quarter, the Rams drove the ball 51 yards down to the Gaston 12-yard line before stalling again. But with 27 seconds left in the quarter, the Asbury defense recovered a Bulldogs fumble at the Gaston 45-yard line.
Just two plays later, the Rams scored their first points of the season. Asbury quarterback Blake Hillis scrambled 8 yards for a touchdown to cut the Gaston lead to 34-6 with 11:49 to play in the fourth quarter. The run was set up by an incredible 37-yard reception by Jerred Meadows.
Next week, the Asbury Rams hit the road to Gaylesville in search of its first win of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m.
