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Thomasville defeats Miller
"Anytime you can beat T. R. Miller it is a good thing," Thomasville Coach Jack Hankins said. "But it is even more special when it is a key region game like it was Friday. I was proud of the overall effort our team made and was particularly proud of the progress the offensive line showed. We still aren't where we need to be but they seem to be making strides each week. It is vital that they and the rest of the team continue to make progress from week to week if we expect to reach our goals."
Leading the Thomasville rushing game was James White with 132 yards and one touchdown on nine carries followed by Delvonte Harris with 84 yards and one touchdown on eight carries and Roya Campbell with 51 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. In the air Daniel Rogers had another good night completing 9 of 15 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns while suffering one interception. On the receiving end of Rogers' aerials were; Tysean Thompson with six catches for 94 yards and one touchdown; Shed Simmons with two catches for 27 yards; and Kenny Sanders with one catch for 29 yards and a touchdown. Thomasville also got a boost from the kicking game with Harrison Lewis nailing seven of seven extra-point attempts, Cameron Dunegan going one for one in the same category and Alex Buford twice setting up the Thomasville offense with a big return, once on a kickoff and once on a punt for a combined 77 yards. On defense Jarrell Watters was the leader with eight tackles while Alex Buford, James Jones and Tacory Marshall all had five stops. Jones and Marshal both had a sack as well and Roya Campbell picked off a Miller pass. Thomasville got off on the right foot, winning the coin toss and electing to defer to the second half, giving Miller the ball first. As is often the case in a battle of two well prepared teams, the defenses for both sides flexed their muscles first shutting down the opposing offenses and forcing an exchange of punts. It appeared as though the Thomasville defense had control of the Miller offense on their second possession as well holding the homestanding Tigers to only six yards in three downs setting up another punting situation at the Miller 42 yard line. Much to Thomasville's surprise though Miller faked the punt and advanced the ball to the Thomasville 26. From there they were in the end zone quickly, scoring on a four yard run. The extra-point was good and Miller had jumped out front 7 - 0 with 5:08 to play in the first quarter. Following the ensuing kick off which Thomasville returned to their 33, the Tigers answered the Miller score when Roya Campbell plunged in from one yard out completing a 67 yard drive. Harrison Lewis added the extra-point tying the game 7 - 7 with 2:46 left in the first period. The Miller offense regained the lead on their next possession kicking a 22 yard field goal with 9:06 to play in the second quarter to go on top 10 - 7. Just as they had done following Miller's first score, the Thomasville offense answered the bell driving 70 yards to pay dirt this time. Daniel Rogers completed the drive with a 14 yard strike to Tysean Thompson in the right corner of the end zone. Harrison Lewis split the uprights and Thomasville was on top 14 - 10. The Thomasville defense which had had its ups and downs in the first quarter came up with a big play on Miller's next possession when Roya Campbell intercepted a pass with 4:01 remaining in the second period and returned it to the Miller 43 giving the Tiger offense a short field to work with. The offense took advantage of it a couple of plays later when James White ripped through the Miller defense for a 32 yard touchdown. Harrison Lewis was on the mark again and Thomasville led 21 - 10 with 3:01 remaining before half time. Thomasville had one more chance to add to their lead with 1:08 to play before intermission but a Miller interception in the end zone stopped the Thomasville drive just outside the Miller 10 keeping the score at 21 - 10 as the first half ended. The third quarter began much like the first quarter had with neither team being able to sustain anything on their first possession. Thomasville got things rolling on their second possession however driving 69 yards for the score. Daniel Rogers connected with Kenny Sanders on a 29 yard scoring strike to complete the drive with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter. Harrison Lewis boomed another one and Thomasville led 28 - 10. In a repeat performance the Tigers made it back to back 69 yard drives scoring again with :27 left in the third stanza when Roya Campbell scampered in from 12 yards out. Harrison Lewis nailed the extra-point and the Thomasville lead stood at 35 - 10. As anybody who knows about the T. R. Miller football tradition will tell you, those young men from Brewton don't give up. That became obvious as the game moved into the fourth quarter. The Miller offense came to life at that point driving 68 yards to pay dirt. A 15 yard run with 10:05 to play in the final period culminated the drive. The extrapoint was on target and the Thomasville lead had been cut to 35 - 17. If that weren't enough to strike fear into the hearts of Thomasville fans, a fumbled snap on a fourth down punt attempt gave Miller the ball again at the Thomasville 15 with over eight minutes to play. Much to the delight of their fans the Miller offense took advantage of the situation and scored two plays later on a two yard run. The extra-point was blocked but the Thomasville lead was now down to 35 - 23 with 7:04 left to play in the game. Refusing to let things erode any further the Thomasville offense took control of the game again on their next possession driving 78 yards for what would be the final points of the game. Delvonte Harris finished the drive racing 56 yards for the Tiger score. Cameron Dunegan tacked on the extra-point and Thomasville led 45 - 23 with 4:25 left to play in the final period. At that point the Thomasville defense stuffed the Miller offense on three downs steadily backing them up. Facing a fourth and long Miller elected to punt turning the ball back over to Thomasville who, although substituting freely, was able to run out the clock leaving the final at 45 - 23. Things don't get any easier of the Tigers this week as they continue regional play traveling to Atmore to take on a tough Escambia County squad. The Blue Devils who are also 5 - 1 on the season and 4 - 0 in the region have a very talented and experienced team with 15 of 22 starters off last year's squad returning. "Escambia County has a very good football team," Thomasville Coach Jack Hankins said. "They are super fast on both sides of the ball. Offensively they have some of the best skill people we will see all season. On defense their linebackers are outstanding and as a unit they run to the ball extremely well." Hankins expects the Blue Devils to be highly motivated as well when the Tigers play them. "Besides this being a very important region game for both teams, Escambia County has decided to make it their homecoming game as well," Hankins said. "They will be taking out all the stops this week and will be sky high when we play them. We need a big and vocal crowd of Tiger fans there to support us Friday."
The game between Thomasville and Escambia County is scheduled for Friday, October 12, at Herbert Barnes Stadium in Atmore with kick off set for 7:00 PM.
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