ALEXANDER CITY, Alabama -- Confidence, execution and trust have been the winning formula for the Minor Tigers as they go on to defeat Benjamin Russell 56-22 Thursday night at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex. With a slow start in the first quarter of the game, the Minor offense turned on the high octane for over 600 yards of total offense the rest of the game.
With the game tied at 14-all late in the first half, Minor had the ball on their own six yard line with a 4th and four. The punt team came in and on the snap, DeAndrea Charleston, the personal protector, took the snap and threw to Jeff Lee on a 10-yard pass over the middle and Lee raced for the end zone for a Tigers touchdown with 1:10 left in the game and the momentum shifted to Minor the rest of the game. "We needed a lift on the fake to get us going," said Tigers Head coach George Bates. "Since the bye week, we have struggled to get going. We need the call and the kids asked for it and they said that they would execute it. I have confidence in our kids."
A 94-yard punt fake pass on the Minor 6-yard line. That is a play you don't see everyday and it's the "Play of the Year" that we have seen so far this season. "I was thinking in my mind when we called it that we have to make this play," said Tigers wide receiver Charleston. "Backed up on our goal line, I saw that it was going to be wide open even before the play happened the way they were playing us. I have all the trust in our players in making the big play and it just all came together on that play. I had know doubt that I was going to make that pass and it turned out to be a big play for us." Charleston finished the game with two receptions for 45 yards, seven carries for 49 yards and a TD with a 2-point conversion and the big 94-yard touchdown pass to Lee for the score.
After the Minor (7-0) fake punt pass play touchdown, the Tigers defense created a turnover on an interception by NiJiel Broom that setup the Minor offense with one minute left in the half. After a JaCure' Jackson pass the Jaylond Adams 30-yard pass play and the next play was a Jackson to Delonte' Evans 12-yard touchdown pass play and a Dominic Ellis two-point conversion gave Minor a 30-14 halftime lead and a lot of momentum going into the locker room. Jackson was the straw the stirred up the offense as he finished the game completing 13-of-27 passing for 256 yards & 2 touchdowns with an interception with 72 yards on eight carries.
In the second half, Benjamin Russell took the kickoff and marched down the field with a score when NeColby Maxwell scored on a 5-yard touchdown run and the Wildcats cut the Minor lead to 30-22 with 8:58 left in the third quarter. After the Benjamin Russell kickoff, Minor took the ball and scored on an Adams 46-yard touchdown run to go up 36-22 with 7:58 left in the third quarter.
With 1:16 left in the third quarter, Adams scored on a 3-yard touchdown run while getting the two-point conversion and Minor led 44-22. With 8:25 left in the fourth quarter, Charleston scored on a 2-yard run and Minor led 50-22. "We came out on the road and face adversity as we came out a little slow in the first half," said Tigers wide receiver Adams. "The second half we came out strong and made the necessary adjustments we needed to make to be successful on offense."
Adams had five receptions for 84 yards with a touchdown along with four carries for 55 yards and two touchdowns with two 2-point conversions in the game. The senior wide receiver/running back speed and quickness is a difference maker for him and the Tigers. "I have grown up a lot and I've learn to control my speed," added Adams. "I don't have to show it all at once, set guys up and burst into my speed."
The Tigers last score came with 5:23 left in the game, when Lee picked up the ball after a punt and raced 60-yards for a Minor touchdown to close out the scoring in the game, the Tigers led 56-22. Lee picked up 195 total yards on the night. The senior running back had two receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown with five carries for 48 yards and a 60-yard punt return TD.
Cornerback & special team weapon Yul Gowdy returns next week against Clay-Chalkville recovery from an injury. The senior defensive back has a kickoff return touchdown against Gardendale this season.
"Special teams really hurt us tonight, we played well in the first quarter but special teams let us down after that," said Wildcats Head coach Danny Horn. "We gave up to many points and two many big plays. We didn't tackle well but give credit to Minor they have a good offense."
Minor will host Clay-Chalkville next week and that game will be for the region championship while Benjamin Russell will host Helena in a Class 6A, Region 3 contest.
