Fort Payne Beats Elkmont, 27-7

If you would like to listen to the game, it is archived at the Fort Payne Radio Network.  Click Here to Listen.

Article:

For the second time in 12 months, Fort Payne coach Paul Ellis found himself answering questions about a Week 10 performance that was effective if not electric.

Junior Luke Jennings carried 15 times for 172 yards and two touchdowns Friday and 
led Class 5A, sixth-ranked Fort Payne past Class 3A Elkmont 27-7.

Both teams advance to the state playoffs next week. Fort Payne (9-1) will play host to Walker, while Elkmont (6-4) will travel to Cullman County to face No. 4 Hanceville.

Fort Payne led only 13-0 at halftime and didn’t secure the win until Jennings raced 46 yards for a TD and a 27-7 lead with 4:46 to play.

“Everybody wants it to be all peaches and cream,” Ellis said. “Overall, I’m very proud of the kids. They’re 9-1. They dropped the ball the second week of the year (in a loss at Etowah), and I was eager to see how they would respond. They responded like Fort Payne Wildcats.”

The game was similar to last year’s meeting at Elkmont, when the Cats led 14-0 at halftime before pulling away for a 35-0 win. It also continued a series of slow starts for the Fort Payne offense.

After a scoreless first quarter, Fort Payne marched 31 yards on 11 plays, with Logan McPherson capping the effort with a 34-yard field goal.

Elkmont went three-and-out, and Fort Payne moved 55 yards on six plays. Senior receiver LaDarin Jones made a leaping catch of a Dale Jackson pass for a 33-yard gain to the Red Devils’ 6, and Jordan Bethune, taking the snap in the wildcat formation, scored from a yard out two plays later.

Fort Payne forced another three-and-out and then used six plays to cover 51 yards before McPherson drilled a 29-yard field goal as time expired for a 13-0 halftime advantage.

Jennings ran 42 yards to the Elkmont 2, and reached the end zone on the next play, pushing the margin to 20-0 with 5:19 left in the third quarter.

Elkmont didn't pick up its next first down until late in the third quarter during a drive in which it covered 80 yards on 15 plays for its touchdown. Big plays on the drive included a 28-yard pass from Huseth to Ben Ferguson and a 10-yard pass from Huseth to Ferguson, giving Elkmont a first down at the Fort Payne 15.

Elkmont scored on a 15-yard pass from Hayden Huseth to Cole Glass with 11:52 left in the fourth period.

source:  Times Journal, Fort Payne - Lew Gilliland