RED DEVILS' HARD WORK PAYS WITH WIN OVER RIVAL WILDCATS

ELKMONT — After suffering tough back-to-back losses, members of the Elkmont coaching staff and players made a pledge as soon as they returned from Lauderdale County a week ago to do their best to play better the rest of the season.

The Red Devils reaped the rewards of a productive week of practice Friday night, holding off county rival West Limestone for a 27-20 homecoming win.

“Last week we all agreed to do what we could do, the best we could do to get better,” Elkmont head coach Sean Holt said. “They came out this week at practice kind of slow and then yesterday we had the best practice yet. When it clicked, it really clicked. The guys came out and played really well tonight.”

The game was barely underway before the Red Devils (3-2) scored on their first play as Cole Glass caught a six-yard pass and then flicked it to Skylar Gant who took it 38 yards for the score.

Ten plays later, with 31 seconds remaining in the first quarter, West Limestone responded as Aaron McWilliams caught a 5-yard pass from Caleb McConnell in the back of the end zone to tie the game at seven. The Jake Blankenship extra point was good.

The Red Devils scored twice in the second quarter to take a 14-point lead at the half. Gant was credited with both, scoring on a 23-yard pass from Huseth and a 1-yard run.

The Wildcats closed the gap with 4:29 remaining in the third as McConnell hit Blankenship with an 8-yard pass, capping off a 12-play, 81-yard drive. Elkmont responded with a score in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter on a 29-yard pass from Huseth to Cole Glass to make it 27-14. The two-point conversion failed.

West Limestone wasn’t giving up.

After a 15-yard roughing the passer call on Elkmont, the Wildcats got the ball at the Red Devil 6-yard line and scored on the next play. Blankenship’s extra point attempt was blocked.

West Limestone looked to have a chance to tie the game with under two minutes remaining after holding Elkmont to 4-and-out, but Huseth intercepted a McConnell pass to seal the win.

Huseth finished the game 10 of 13 for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 14 times for 63 yards. Gant rushed 10 times for 46 yards and two touchdowns.

Elkmont travels to Sheffield Friday, while West Limestone is at Central-Florence.


SOURCE:  ATHENS NEWS-COURIER
By Ashley Graves