By BRET H. MCCORMICK, Journal Sports
A single play can change the dynamic of a football game.
For Alexandria Senior High that single play happened on two consecutive snaps Friday night.
Leading 10-7, the Trojans were marching in for what looked like another touchdown on the first drive of the second half when senior EJ Scott fumbled just shy of the goal line.
West Monroe recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback, and the Rebels took the lead on the next play when Kedrian McNeil ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run on their way to a 28-23 victory.
Star senior receiver David Moore, called into action at cornerback, made two huge plays for the Rebels (8-1, 4-0 District 2-5A). A few plays after forcing the Scott fumble near the goal line, Moore jumped a pass by ASH senior quarterback Ty Feaster and returned it 53 yards for a 21-10 West Monroe lead just a few minutes into the third quarter.
“It was a 21-point swing is what it turned into because we turned it over,” ASH coach Thomas Bachman said. “That 90 seconds of game clock was a huge part of the ball game.”
The Trojans (5-4, 2-2), who outgained West Monroe by more than 100 yards in the game, refused to fold despite being down by two scores.
JT Lindsey’s second TD run of the game, a 1-yard plunge, cut the West Monroe lead to 21-17 early in the fourth quarter, but the Rebels answered right back as senior quarterback Hayden Federico sidestepped a sack and hit a wide-open McNeil for a 30-yard score.
The Trojans drove right back down the field and again cut the deficit to one score on a 5-yard pass from Feaster to Amyrion Mingo. The 2-point conversion attempt failed, meaning the Trojans trailed by five, needing a stop and a touchdown to win.
ASH got the defensive stand, forcing the Rebels to punt, and took over with 1:37 to play, needing to go 75 yards for a game-winning TD. However, Feaster’s first-down pass was intercepted by West Monroe to thwart the Trojans’ comeback attempt.
“It felt like we gave that one away to be honest with you,” Bachman said. “Those are the ones that eat at you. … I felt like we had an opportunity to win this one by a few scores, and ultimately we didn’t do it.”
Feaster completed 19 of 33 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw two critical interceptions. Junior Darius Washington caught a season-high 10 passes for 152 yards as the Trojans compiled more than 400 yards of offense.
The Trojans couldn’t have gotten off to a better start, forcing the Rebels into a three-and-out on their opening drive and then covering 80 yards on five plays to take a 7-0 lead courtesy of a 50-yard touchdown run by Lindsey, who finished with 139 yards and two scores on 24 carries.
After West Monroe tied the game on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Federico to Moore, ASH took a three-point lead into halftime on a 20-yard field goal by senior Bodie Van Dyke on the final play of the second quarter.
WEST OUACHITA 21, PINEVILLE 7
Fullback Marlon Owens rushed for two first-half touchdowns, while Luke Jones added a 41-yard touchdown in the third quarter as the Chiefs (6-3, 1-3 District 2-5A) opened a 21-0 lead.
Ayden Tate’s 7-yard touchdown in the game’s final minutes was the lone score for the Rebels, who couldn’t take advantage of three West Ouachita turnovers.
Tate lost two costly fumbles for the Rebels, which opened the door for fellow sophomore Hy’keem Mix in the backfield. Mix led the Rebels (2-7, 0-4) with 109 rushing yards on 21 carries, while Tate added 72 rushing yards.
Senior defensive end Sebastian Molette forced a Chief fumble with a big hit in the backfield and hopped on the ball to recover it as well for one of the Rebels’ three forced turnovers. Senior defensive tackle Justin Belgard also had a fumble recovery for the Rebels, while junior cornerback Briant Dearborne made an interception.