Injuries, mistakes cripple Devils in opener
Falkville’s Zack Garrison tries not to trip over two Sumiton Christian defenders. | Special to the Enquirer: Richard Hollingsworth
Falkville’s Blue Devils were crippled with injuries and mistakes as they fell to Sumiton Christian 41-14 in a regional game loss at Burl Vest Stadium Friday night.
Three Blue Devils were unable to finish the game because of injuries. Garrett Widener was helped off of the field in the second quarter and rushed to Hartselle Medical Center with a head injury. Mark Carver and Johnny Tompkins had to leave the game in the fourth quarter with ankle injuries.
Two other players left the field with less serious injuries and were able to return to the game. On top of that two starters, Austin Zimmerman and Canaan Smith didn’t dress for the game. Zimmerman had strep throat and Smith was injured in practice.
Sumiton Christian was able to gain momentum and take a 26-7 lead into the dressing room at halftime because of three Falkville miscues.
An errant pass was picked off by Andrew Rhodes and returned 75 yards for a Sumiton Christian touchdown with 3:50 left in the first period. A blocked punt was recovered in the Blue Devils’ end zone by Jacob Self for another SCS score with 10:46 left in the second quarter. A second pass interception set up SCS’s third touchdown on a 19-yard run by Trey Blackmon with 3:32 left in the second quarter.
The visitors closed out the half scoring on a 40-yard scamper by Austin Roach.
The Blue Devils held a 7-6 advantage in the first quarter after quarterback Tyler Anders connected with Aaron Estes on a 52-yard pass play and Johnny Tompkins converted the extra point.
The visitors extended their lead to 34-7 in the third quarter by marching 63 yards in five plays and scoring on a 2-yard run by Rhodes and adding a two-point conversion on a run by Blackburn. They closed out their scoring in the final quarter on a 22-yard run by Joseph Thompson and an extra point conversion by Trey Collins.
The Blue Devils put together a 61-yard drive for their second score. Anders and Estes hooked up on a
