NO CONTEST: Montgomery Academy races past Pike Liberal Arts
Ali Nelson escapes a tackle in the Eagles’ win over Pike Liberal Arts on Thursday. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
Unbeaten Montgomery Academy knew Pike Liberal Arts has been struggling this season, but it didn’t stop the Eagles from practicing and playing to their standard.
As a result, a highly efficient MA squad took advantage of an overmatched Pike Lib team, rolling up 14 first downs in 21 first-half plays on the way to a 49-7 homecoming victory at McLemore Field on Thursday night.
“By the time the game comes, it doesn’t matter if you’re 6-0 or 0-6, I want everybody fully bought in to we’ve got to play to our standard every single week,” Montgomery Academy coach Ethan McBride said. “Pike Lib did a lot of great things on film. I thought we had a great week of practice.
“Obviously, I love when we can get out on the field and get fired up and get rolling from the jump.”
Ali Nelson’s 67-yard kickoff return set up Reid McBride’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Jarrett Friendly on the first play from scrimmage.
After a seven-play possession by Pike Liberal Arts resulted in a punt, McBride dropped back and found Friendly again, this time on a 56-yard connection for a 14-0 lead.
Two plays later, William Marks intercepted Braden Shirley’s pass and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead.
After a Braden Gordon touchdown, McBride connected with Friendly again, this time from 41 yards out, for a 35-0 lead two minutes into the second quarter.
Friendly had three receptions for 116 yards and three touchdowns.
“They’ve worked their tails off all week, so we want to make sure we get them the opportunity to do their thing,” McBride said of his starters. “Sometimes, in these games, they only play 10 plays and we’re like, we didn’t get that guy enough touches. It’s homecoming. You want everybody to get an opportunity to play in front of their parents, in front of all the people that have supported them.”
Friendly said the early lead allowed the Eagles to play the younger players and get them some playing time.
“We’re building up our younger guys, which is the ultimate goal,” he said, “so that even when we’re gone, we (the program) are still great.”
John Harris Taylor had a 10-yard catch for a touchdown and Jason Samples added a 13-yard touchdown run as the Eagles extended the lead to 49-0 at the half.
The game was shortened to eight-minute quarters with a running clock in the second half. The Eagles’ hopes of pitching their fourth consecutive shutout vanished on the last play of the game as Shirley threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Bowen.
Reid McBride completed all six pass attempts for 152 yards and four touchdowns, while Nelson rushed for 98 yards on eight carries. Gordon added 46 yards and a touchdown on three carries.
Defensively, Finley Haigler had five tackles, including a sack and a pass breakup, Marks had four tackles in addition to his interception return, Ridgeway Britt had four tackles and a pass breakup and Gordon had three tackles.
Montgomery Academy has outscored its opponents 260-14 in its last five games, but McBride said tougher tests are right around the corner.
“We’ve got some tough teams coming in the regular season,” he said. “There’s no doubt about that. We still want to win the region championship and to do that you’ve got to beat Fort Dale, then you’ve got to beat Trinity and that game with Trinity will in all likelihood determine who it is.”
“I don’t feel like there’s a big concern,” Friendly said. “Our guys in practice test us well enough. Even when we get in those situations, I think we’ll be prepared for it.”