By Justin Graves

Justin@athensnews-courier.com

ATHENS – Golden Eagles coach Allen Creasy admits that sometimes it’s hard to notice every problem on a football team in practice. That’s why he likes the concept of testing his team in a preseason jamboree.

Athens lost to Bob Jones 23-19 in a preseason jamboree Friday night, but Creasy feels the game was a huge positive for his Golden Eagles.

“We got a lot of good work in,” Creasy said. “We did a lot of good things, but on the same note there are several areas we have to address.

“But that’s why we play jamborees. There are things you notice in a live game that you don’t see in practice. This way we can fix the problem areas in practice this week so they don’t show up again next week when the season starts.”

Even though both teams have been hyped as potentially having high-powered offenses, it was the defensive units that set the tone early.

“We did several good things on the defensive side of the ball,” Creasy said. “That was one thing I was glad to see.”

After Athens’ offense went three-and-out, Bob Jones got a drive going when Jordan Bussing hit Stephen Flowers on a 32-yard pass to put the Patriots in the Golden Eagles’ red zone again. Three plays later Bussing found the endzone on a five-yard touchdown run. The’ extra-point was good, giving the Patriots a 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Athens’ quarterback Rob Ezell was intercepted by a Bob Jones defender on the Athens 48-yard line.

“We had some let downs early on offense,” Creasy said.

Bob Jones got on the again before half time when Bussing made a 33-yard field goal to extend the Patriots’ lead to 10-0.

Athens reached the redzone once in the first half, but Matt Jackson’s 23-yard field goal attempt was blocked.

“We had a few things go wrong in the first half,” Creasy said. “There were some mental let downs on special teams, but we are going to work on fixing them this week.”

The Golden Eagles looked like a different team when they came out of the locker room in the second half. On the second play of the half, Ezell hit Jacquez Pride for a 63-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 10-6. Jackson’s extra-point attempt was blocked.

On the ensuing series, Robert Brown intercepted Bussing’s pass and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown. Jackson’s extra-point was good, giving Athens a 13-10 lead.

Both team’s took their first string units out after second series of the second half.

Bob Jones scored twice in the fourth quarter and Blake Sulcer reached the endzone once for Athens.

“There was a few let downs, but overall it’s nothing that can’t be fixed,” Creasy said. “We’re going to watch the film Saturday and get right to work.

“Even though some guys made some mistakes, there were a lot of guys who did good things. The main thing we do is use this as something to build on.”

Athens opens its regular season at home with East Limestone Saturday night.



Ardmore 19, Wilson 7

New Ardmore coach Tracy Malone got a good performance from his Tigers in their preseason jamboree win at Wilson Friday night.

Ardmore took an early 6-0 lead when Derrek Green scored on an 11-yard touchdown run. The Tigers extra-point attempt was no good.

Clay Wales got Ardmore on the board again in the first quarter when he hit Duron Robison on a 20-yard touchdown pass. The Tigers’ extra-point attempt was good.

Wilson scored with 8:38 remaining in the second quarter to cut the lead to 13-7.

Travis Toone scored a one-yard touchdown for Ardmore late in the fourth quarter. The extra-point attempt was good.

Ardmore opens its regular season at home with close rival Elkmont Friday night.



Priceville 30, West Limestone 20

West Limestone came up short in its preseason jamboree at Priceville Friday night.

The Bulldogs took an early lead and the Wildcats were never able to come back.

West Limestone opens its season Friday night on the road at Holy Pond.