RAMS WIN TWO, BEARS TOP EAGLES & FORT PAYNE FALLS TO OXFORD
By Cinthia Rico This week marks the start of the 2023 high school football season in DeKalb County.
As a final rehearsal before kickoff, several local teams, including Fort Payne, Sylvania, and Plainview, took part in jamborees last Thursday and Friday.
Sylvania 24, North Jackson 0
The Sylvania Rams are coming off an impressive season, finishing with a 10-4 overall record in 2022, including a 5-2 mark in Class 3A, Region 6 action and four rounds deep into the playoffs before falling to Piedmont in the state semifinals.
This year, the Rams are back with some serious firepower offensively and defensively.
Last Friday night, Sylvania went head-to-head with the North Jackson Chief in the first two quarters, then took on North Sand Mountain in the second half at R.D. Hicks Stadium in Stevenson.
The Rams made an offensive push early on, before running back Aiden Parham scored their first touchdown at the 6:43 mark and Conner Andrade added a good PAT.
Sylvania recovered a Chief fumble on the snap, Travis Owens capitalized on the mistake, rushing for a second TD with 1:45 left in the first quarter, and Andrade added another point-after.
At the end of the first quarter the Rams lead 14-0. Continuing their momentum, Griffin Turner connected with Leo Kirby for a touchdown pass at the start of the second.
Sylvania’s defense proved challenging as the Chiefs had a difficult time getting past them.
The Rams closed scoring with a 35-yard field goal from Andrade to lift Sylvania to a 24-0 final score.
Sylvania 28, North Sand Mountain 7
Travis Owens got things started for the Rams rushing 39 yards for a first down as Sylvania ran past North Sand Mountain 28-7 during Friday’s preseason game.
Turner found Zack Anderson for a first quarter touchdown pass with 11:08 remaining. A few plays later, Shaun Gimm followed up another Ram TD.
Capitalizing on Andersons’ interception, Turner connected with Logan Wilks for a 27-yard touchdown pass closing the first quarter with a 21-0 advantage.
Owens broke free for Sylvania’s fourth scoring run, and Andrade added a good PAT.
The Bison cut the score with Colten Haggard rushing up the right for a touchdown at the 7:31 mark. A good point-after made it 28-7.
Proven to be a force to reckon with, the Rams amassed a combined seven touchdowns during Friday night’s jamboree matchups.
Sylvania opens the regular season Sept. 1 at Saks in Jack Stewart Field, while North Jackson travels to Scottsboro and North Sand Mountain travels to Valley Head on Aug. 25.
Oxford 27, Fort Payne 3
Oxford’s defense held steady against Fort Payne during last Thursday night’s fall jamboree at Wildcat Stadium.
Quarterback Mason Mims completed 15 of 23 passes for 164 yards and threw two first-half touchdown passes, helping Oxford score on each of their first three series.
In the last second of the half, Fort Payne’s varsity offense made a move into Oxford territory. Varnadore threw a throw to Kaden Dubose for a 34-yard gain. In a final push, Conner Hughes’ attempted a 44-yard field goal.
A bright moment for the Wildcats came midway through the fourth quarter, which featured JV players. Fort Payne recovered some ground in the second half, inching towards the end zone, as Hayden Chambers kicked a 32-yard field goal at the 7:18 mark.
Despite their efforts, the Fort Payne Wildcats were unable to break through the Oxford defense and score a touchdown. The game ended with a final score of 27-3 in favor of Oxford.
On Friday at Wildcat Stadium, Fort Payne and Scottsboro square off in the first game of the regular season as they compete for the TopCat title.
Plainview 17, Douglas 14
Last Friday night at Arthur Jarvis Stadium, the Plainview Bears and Douglas faced off, with the Bears coming out on top 17-14.
Against the Eagles, the Bears amassed 207 total rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Gage Brown, a sophomore running back, completed a 35-yard drive at the 4:17 mark by rushing into the end zone from inside the 5-yard line.
Early in the second quarter, freshman Brayden Lingerfelt kicked a field goal from 27 yards out to give the Bears a 10-0 lead. Additionally, Lingerfelt recorded an interception in the game on Friday night.
A few plays later, the Eagles made a 65-yard drive during which Kenya Watkins scored on a 16-yard run to bring the score to 10-7.
Michael Lopez of Plainview ran for 55 yards on the Bears’ following possession.
Plainview’s running back Michael Lopez scored on the Bears’ ensuing possession, rushing for 55 yards on seven carries.
Plainview opens its regular season at home against Priceville on Friday at Plainview Stadium.
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