This time speed won over size and power. Bulloch Academy’s explosive offensive attack was simply too much for the David Emanuel Academy Eagles in last Thursday’s gridiron season opener at Gator Alley that ended with a final score of 59-22.
The highly touted Gators, now a member of the GISA Class AAA ranks, rolled up 486 yards of total offense including 469 on the ground. All four members of the Georgia Southern style triple option backfield contributed to the onslaught led by wingback Ellis Lane who ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns and caught a TD pass of 17 yards. Fullback Lestonz Lewis finished the night with 166 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries while quarterback Brandon Walker scored on a 46 yard run and wingback Morris Prince hit paydirt on runs of 38 and 16 yards.
While the Eagles, under new Head Coach Jimmy Barnett, struggled on defense, there were signs of promise out of the offensive unit. DEA rolled up 297 yards on the ground including a sustained march that lasted 9:33 in the third quarter. Senior Jacob Wheeler had a team high 136 yards on 13 carries with touchdown runs of 75 and five yards, the latter capping the third quarter drive. Fullback Nick Reynolds finished with 67 yards on nine carries including a fourth period TD while quarterback Chet Ellison, making his first varsity start, ran 10 time for 40 yards. Logan Hall had 26 yards on seven carries with a two point conversion run, Blake Patterson ran seven times for 22 yards and Seth Durden had six yards on three attempts. Ellison completed two passes, both to Durden for a total of 50 yards and also connected with Patterson on a two point conversion following Wheeler’s 75 yard gallop.
Bulloch took the opening drive and scored on Walker’s keeper from 46 yards away to give them a lead they would never relinquish. DEA fumbled the ball away on their second offensive play and the Gators cashed in on that also as Walker passed to a wide open Ellis Lane in the end zone one play later.
A Seth Durden interception momentarily kept the Gators from expanding the lead. But the Eagles gave it right back when Clayton Rogers made a leaping interception near the DEA sidelines at the 38 yard line. Prince raced in for there on the next play to give Bulloch a 20-0 lead.
Wheeler’s breakaway 75 yard touchdown run moments gave the Eagles hope. The two point pass play from Ellison to Patterson made it 20-8 with 2:17 left in the first quarter. But the Gators finished the half with 26 unanswered points to make it a 46-8 halftime score as Lane scored on runs of 45 and 59 yards and Lewis tallied from 68 and 30 yards out.
Wheeler’s third quarter five yard TD run was countered by a 16 yard score by Prince. Reynolds’ TD was the final DEA touchdown of the game. But right after Logan Hall’s two point conversion, Courtney Reese returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards for the Gators.
The Eagles will play their home opener this Friday versus Westminster of Augusta, a 17-15 winner over Curtis Baptist last Friday night. Bulloch Academy will host Robert Toombs with both games kicking off at 7:30.
This time speed won over size and power. Bulloch Academy’s explosive offensive attack was simply too much for the David Emanuel Academy Eagles in last Thursday’s gridiron season opener at Gator Alley that ended with a final score of 59-22.
The highly touted Gators, now a member of the GISA Class AAA ranks, rolled up 486 yards of total offense including 469 on the ground. All four members of the Georgia Southern style triple option backfield contributed to the onslaught led by wingback Ellis Lane who ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns and caught a TD pass of 17 yards. Fullback Lestonz Lewis finished the night with 166 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries while quarterback Brandon Walker scored on a 46 yard run and wingback Morris Prince hit paydirt on runs of 38 and 16 yards.
While the Eagles, under new Head Coach Jimmy Barnett, struggled on defense, there were signs of promise out of the offensive unit. DEA rolled up 297 yards on the ground including a sustained march that lasted 9:33 in the third quarter. Senior Jacob Wheeler had a team high 136 yards on 13 carries with touchdown runs of 75 and five yards, the latter capping the third quarter drive. Fullback Nick Reynolds finished with 67 yards on nine carries including a fourth period TD while quarterback Chet Ellison, making his first varsity start, ran 10 time for 40 yards. Logan Hall had 26 yards on seven carries with a two point conversion run, Blake Patterson ran seven times for 22 yards and Seth Durden had six yards on three attempts. Ellison completed two passes, both to Durden for a total of 50 yards and also connected with Patterson on a two point conversion following Wheeler’s 75 yard gallop.
Bulloch took the opening drive and scored on Walker’s keeper from 46 yards away to give them a lead they would never relinquish. DEA fumbled the ball away on their second offensive play and the Gators cashed in on that also as Walker passed to a wide open Ellis Lane in the end zone one play later.
A Seth Durden interception momentarily kept the Gators from expanding the lead. But the Eagles gave it right back when Clayton Rogers made a leaping interception near the DEA sidelines at the 38 yard line. Prince raced in for there on the next play to give Bulloch a 20-0 lead.
Wheeler’s breakaway 75 yard touchdown run moments gave the Eagles hope. The two point pass play from Ellison to Patterson made it 20-8 with 2:17 left in the first quarter. But the Gators finished the half with 26 unanswered points to make it a 46-8 halftime score as Lane scored on runs of 45 and 59 yards and Lewis tallied from 68 and 30 yards out.
Wheeler’s third quarter five yard TD run was countered by a 16 yard score by Prince. Reynolds’ TD was the final DEA touchdown of the game. But right after Logan Hall’s two point conversion, Courtney Reese returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards for the Gators.
The Eagles will play their home opener this Friday versus Westminster of Augusta, a 17-15 winner over Curtis Baptist last Friday night. Bulloch Academy will host Robert Toombs with both games kicking off at 7:30.
Speedy Gators run past Eagles
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