Zack Taylor scrambles at Andrew Jackson Friday. (Photo/Jason Arthur)
EHRHARDT (Nov. 14, 2016) – The Richard Winn Eagles (8-4) needed just one more win to get back to the SCISA 8-Man state title game as they did back in 2014. The Confederates of Andrew Jackson (11-0) had other ideas as they annihilate the Eagles 78-0 Friday giving them an opportunity to head into the championship game against King Academy.
“Tonight just wasn’t our night. We faced a very good team that pretty much dominated us in all aspects of the game tonight,” said Eagles head coach Rob O’Connell. “We had a pretty good week of practice and we as a staff felt we had pretty good chance at advancing to the title game.”
The Eagles began the first quarter down 16-0 early as both the offense and defense looked stagnant against Andrew Jackson’s dominance on both sides of the ball.
“Once we got down early to them we just never really knew how to respond to them punching us in the mouth, and in a heavyweight bout you have to be able to pick yourself up off the mat. We never really could do that,” O’Connell said.
Andrew Jackson rolled up 32 straight unanswered points in the opening frame to take a commanding lead.
The Confederates dominant performance did not slow down heading into the second quarter as they went on to score 22 more points, giving them a 54-0 lead at the half. Andrew Jackson controlled the line scrimmage entirely, keeping the Richard Winn defense on the field entirely too much.
“Andrew Jackson’s defense really led to us not being to capitalize tonight,” O’Connell said. “Our inability to gain any momentum on the offensive side of the ball led to our defense struggling tonight and you saw the outcome of that.”
Andrew Jackson put 24 more points on the board to finish off the Eagles’ season 78-0.
Despite the loss, O’Connell said he was proud of his team’s season and hopes it carries over into next season.
“I am proud of our guys for their will to persevere through many obstacles this season,” O’Connell said. “Even though we finished 8-4 and a game away from our goal, which was to hoist that State Championship trophy again as we did in 2014, I will hope our young guys use this as fuel in the offseason to help gain the strength to once again reign as State Champs.”
