Class 4A Ardmore (1-0) used a rushing attack that combined deceptive pitchouts and inside handoffs with punishing runs up the middle to overwhelm Elkmont, which hadn’t lost to the Tigers since 2007.
“We spotted them 16 points before we settled down and got into our game plan,” said Ardmore head coach Shannon Brown. “I felt like we had a very good game plan going into the game, and I’m very proud of my boys. I’m also very proud of Elkmont because they have a first-class group.
“This is a huge win for the program and this community. Winning a game that has a lot of emotion like this is an exciting way to start the season, especially with our volleyball team winning, too, and our band program is second to none.”
Ardmore outgained the Red Devils 266-92 on offense, including 228 yards on the ground, and held a 14-7 advantage on first downs.
Class 3A Elkmont (0-1) led 16-0 after the first quarter thanks to an explosive play on special teams and two Ardmore turnovers. Sophomore running back Chase Renew, who led the Red Devils with 20 yards on seven carries, fielded the opening kickoff near his own end zone and raced down the right sideline for an 80-yard return to the Ardmore 18-yard line. After senior quarterback Bryant Wales (4-of-12 passing for 39 yards and six carries for eight yards) was stuffed at the goal-line on third-and-goal, Renew barreled over the left side of the line at the 8:54 mark and Alexis Hernandez booted the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing possession, Elkmont senior Matthew Barnes scooped up a Tyler McCarley fumble in the middle of the field and rambled down the visitor sideline for a 68-yard touchdown with 8:23 remaining in the first. After an errant PAT, the Red Devils led 13-0.
On its second possession, Ardmore was progressing the ball downfield when Barnes picked off Tigers sophomore quarterback Garret Miller (2-of-7 passing for 38 yards, eight rushes for 14 yards) near midfield and returned it 27 yards before being tackled by Ricky Lowery. Elkmont faced third-and-5 at the Ardmore 10, but Wales’ completion to junior tight end Hugo Hernandez in the right flat gained only three yards. The Red Devils settled for a 25-yard Alexis Hernandez field goal to go ahead 16-0 with 4:23 left in the first.
Ardmore re-grouped on its third possession with an 11-play drive that covered 77 yards as McCarley, a senior captain and the team’s leading rusher, rushed six times for 38 yards. Miller faked a pitch to the right to McCarley and then gave the ball to senior Zach Ellis (10 carries, 44 yards) on an inside hand-off to score a 7-yard TD with 11:16 left in the second quarter. Miller faked again to McCarley on the 2-point conversion and scored on a keeper to cut the Red Devils’ lead to one possession at 16-8.
With Elkmont facing third-and-1 at its own 48, a host of Ardmore defenders flooded the backfield to wrap up sophomore Mike Tucker and force a Red Devils punt by senior Dustin Ward, (four punts, 47.5 average with a long of 55 yards).
Ardmore continued its comeback with nine-play, 85-yard drive as McCarley broke two runs of 9 yards, scored from the Elkmont 4-yard line at the 3:10 mark before halftime and converted the 2-point conversion.
Each team had a three-and-out to end the half with the game deadlocked at 16, but Ardmore, which won the coin toss, got the ball back right away in the third quarter thanks to deferring the ball until the second half.
The Tigers took full advantage of this opportunity by going on a 12-play, 70-yard drive to open the second half as McCarley (25 carries for 124 yards), rushed four times for 18 yards, Ellis ran three times for 13 yards and Miller had three QB keepers for 17 yards. Ardmore seized the lead when Miller rolled right on first-and-10 at the Elkmont 18 and found senior captain Hayden Durrett in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. Ardmore led 22-16 at the 5:33 mark after the Tigers’ fake PAT failed.
The Ardmore defense had six tackles for negative yardage, three pass breakups and one forced fumble, and held Elkmont to 53 yards rushing and 92 yards of total offense. Carson Pack and Creagan Lewter each had a sack, while McCarley, Lewter and Jesse Rich each had four tackles.
Barnes led Elkmont with two takeaways, while Tucker had seven tackles and also recovered an offensive fumble. Ben Ferguson and Tommy Gooch each had a sack for the Red Devils.
This Friday Ardmore will host Butler at 7 p.m. to open 4A, Region 7 play, while Elkmont will host Colbert County at 7 p.m. in Class 3A, Region 8 play.
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