Falkville shuts out Fultondale 19-0

By Staff
Tim Sharp, Enquirer Correspondent
FULTONDALE — A stellar defensive performance allowed the Falkville Blue Devils (2-1, 1-1 2A Region 5) to overcome a penalty riddled offensive attack and leave Fultondale (1-2, 1-1 2A Region 5) with a 19-0 shutout Friday night, allowing only 28 yards of total offense and causing six turnovers.
Austin Murphy led the defensive effort with a fumble recovery and two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown.
The Blue Devils made their first big defensive play of the night late in the first quarter. After failing to convert on a fourth-and-7 from the Wildcat 9-yard line, Falkville recovered a fumble at the 10 on Fultondale’s next play from scrimmage. Three plays later, sophomore Shane Ellis capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter.
A recovered onside kick yielded no results for the Devils, but once again, the defense rose to the occasion. After a costly facemask penalty, Falkville was forced to punt. Again, on the Wildcats’ first play from scrimmage, Austin Murphy intercepted a pass at the Wildcats’ 40-yard line and raced down the sideline for a touchdown.
After several exchanges of punts, the Wildcats faced a fourth-and-16 on their own 29. An attempted fake punt lost four yards and set the Devils up with excellent field position. Five plays later on a reverse pass, senior Nathan Riggins hit Shane Ellis in the end zone for his second touchdown of the night with 24 seconds left in the half. Ellis finished the night with 85 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries and one reception for 21 yards and a second touchdown.
That would be all the scoring the Devils would muster as they were hampered by frequent penalties throughout the second half.
The game’s leading rusher Shane Ellis expressed similar sentiment.
Junior Brandon Clark provided another bright spot for the Devils, punting six times for a 42.7-yard average. Sophomore Dustin Jump added 50 yards on a dozen carries. Falkville finished the night with 132 yards on 41 carries with one fumble and was 3-of-15 passing for 42 yards. They had 15 penalties for 149 yards and gained eight first downs.
Fultondale finished with 19 yards rushing on 24 attempts and four fumbles. They were 2-of-13 passing for nine yards and two interceptions while being penalized three times for 31 yards.
Falkville hosts Cold Springs next week in a Class 2A Region 5 matchup. Fultondale travels to Cleveland.