Lee’s Mantez Holmes battles Pleasant Grove’s Chris Caldwell for a high pass during the Spartans’ 10-0 win over the Generals on Friday.
(Photo by Chris Dunn. For more photos of this and other games, click here).)

Combined Reports
(August 28, 2010)

After building confidence in last week’s preseason jamboree, the Robert E. Lee Generals took a step backwards in Friday’s season opener.

The Generals struggled offensively in a 10-0 loss to Class 5A Pleasant Grove at Cramton Bowl.

“We didn’t play well,” Lee coach Larry Ware said. “I’m not down on this team but we have to realize what we need to do to get better. We didn’t do the things we need to do. It was there for us. We just didn’t execute.”

Lee had just one serious scoring threat in the second half, but on third down, Todderick Nickerson’s pass went through his receiver’s hands in the end zone. The score would have given Lee the lead.

“We are still trying to develop some players,” Ware said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do on the offensive line.”

Lee had less than 100 yards in offense and three turnovers. The Generals were penalized nine times for 134 yards.

Pleasant Grove quarterback Ben Wheeler had one touchdown pass but four interceptions, all in the first half.  Anthony White had two of the interceptions for Lee.

The Generals enter region play on Friday at Wetumpka.

Carver handles Opelika behind Pitts, Johnson

OPELIKA - Sophomore quarterback Jeremy Johnson passed for 242 yards  on 11-of-18 passing and threw four touchdown passes in G.W. Carver’s 55-34 win over Opelika in the season opener for both teams on Friday.

It was the first win for Carver over Opelika since 1982.

I’m happy for our kids and the Carver program,” Carver coach Al Pogue said. “We had some mistakes that we need to iron out but I’ll take an ugly win over a pretty loss any day.”

The game was tied at 7-7 in the first quarter before Carver pulled away and led 35-14 at the half. The Wolverines added to its lead early in the second half and cruised from there.

“I like the way we played and we had a lot of big plays,” Pogue said. “We didn’t have a perfect night but this was an important win for us.”

Antonio Pitts caught three touchdown passes while Stanley Robinson had 123 yards on 16 carries and two scores. Meryles Gilbert added a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Carver opens its home schedule next Friday against city rival Jeff Davis.

Enterprise opens new stadium with win over Lanier

ENTERPRISE – Playing for the first time in the new Wildcat Stadium, Enterprise defeated Sidney Lanier,  49-21, Friday in the season opener for both teams.

Lanier trailed 14-0 late in the first quarter when Roderick Taylor got the Poets on the board with a fumble recovery and return of 68 yards for the score.

The Poets trailed by seven at halftime but Enterprise pulled away for a three-touchdown lead in the third quarter. Lanier scored consecutive touchdowns on runs by KeDarius Humphries (8 yards) and Camdon Foster (92 yards) to pull within a touchdown before the Wildcats pulled away scoring 14 unanswered points.

Lanier opens region play Thursday against Benjamin Russell at Cramton Bowl.

Stanhope wins in OT over Thompson

ALABASTER – Ryan Marusich’s interception preserved a 10-7 lead in overtime to lift Stanhope Elmore to a win over Thompson on Friday.

Arie Anderson kicked the game winner from 21 yards out.

Fred Harris had the Mustangs’ lone touchdown on a 7-yard run.

The Mustangs play host to Prattville on Friday.

Catholic beats St. Jude in OT

Jake Clark scored the winning touchdown and Kenny Davison’s interception of a pass in the end zone preserved Montgomery Catholic’s 21-14 overtime win over St. Jude in the season opener.

The Knights overcame three first-half turnovers and led 14-6 in the fourth when Byran Bower scored and Chris Payton added the two-point conversion to tie the game.

Thomas Wujcik scored the Knights’ other touchdown on a 1-yard run.

Catholic plays Montgomery Academy while St. Jude faces Talladega County Central next Friday.

MA loses late to Houston Academy

DOTHAN – Michael Bemis’ 45-yard field goal fell short as time expired in Montgomery Academy’s 27-24 loss to Houston Academy.

The Raiders scored the winning touchdown with just over a minute left in the game in what was a see-saw battle.

The Eagles face Catholic next Friday.