LIONS PICK UP FIRST WIN OF SEASON

PRATTVILLE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF WETUMPKA TURNOVERS TO WIN GOING AWAY, 44-14

Chad Anderson got rid of a huge burden  Friday night September 14 at Stanley Jensen Stadium.  Prattville 44 Wetumpka 14.  Maybe it wasn’t the 500 pound gorilla, but the win eradicated the stigma of a two-game losing streak, and put the Lions in the “W” Column for the first time this season.

Anderson had taken the full responsibility of the two games slide.   His young team now has something good to built on as they begin the meat of their schedule with the regional win under their belt.

While the win wasn’t perfect, there was too many fumbles, and certainly way too many penalties, yet Prattville made great strides in taking advantage of turnovers and turning them into scores.

The win had to be emotional for not just Anderson but the other former Wetumpka staff members that followed him to Prattville.  After all many friendships were built in the ten years they were at the Elmore County School.

While sophomore quarterback Kalen Whitlow did not light up the scoreboard in the passing department, he also did not have any interceptions, and was more comfortable under center.

Certainly there are tougher foes down the road for the Lions to battle.  Next Friday September 21 the Thompson Warriors from Alabaster come to town.  Thompson defeated  Shelby County on opening day, 47-6.  They were thumped by Chelsea, 42-23 and lost to Pelham 35-20.

Pelham along with Prattville is tied with Stanhope Elmore and Chelsea for third place in Region Four standings.  Oak Mountain and Spain Park are tied for first place with 2-0 records.

Friday night’s win saw the Lions again grind out yards on the ground to chalk up the win.  Junior running back Kamryn Pettway rushed for over one hundred yards for the third consecutive week picking up 161 yards on 12 trips.  Stanley Mays rushed for 50 yards, as the Lions finished with 246 yards.

Wetumpka took the opening kickoff and picked one a first down to their 33, but the drive fizzled at the Indians 36 and forced a punt.  The snap sailed past Jake Millwood back to the Indian 17.

Prattville scored in six plays with Stanley Mays scooting over from the 11-yard line. Austin Macginnis kicked his first of four extra points for a 7-0 with 7:45 left in the quarter.

Prattville forced a three and out and a Lindsay Alexander punt that rolled dead to the Lion 48.  It took five minutes to tack on the Lions' second score with Pettway scoring on a five yard run.

Highlights of the drive two Pettway nine yard runs and a 12-yard run where he broke two tackles.  Stanley Mays also had a nine yard run with 1:50 left.

Wetumpka answered with a quick four play score.  Millwood hit De'Andre Hutchinson with a 22-yard aerial.  On first down Austin Armstrong broke free off tackle and rambled the distance.  Lindsay kicked the first of his two extra points making it 14-7 with 10:43 left in half.

Things began to unravel for the Indians on the kickoff.  Wetumpka muffed the kickoff with Prattville recovering the ball at the Indian 30.  A 15-yard penalty moved the ball to the Lion 49.  On second down Pettway went straight up the middle, broke clear at the 44 and zipped down field for his second touchdown of the afternoon.

Lining up quickly for the extra point the ball was snapped to Randall Reese and he walked in for two points and a 22-7 lead at 9:56.

The teams exchanged three possessions.  Wetumpka began its fourth possession with 40.9 seconds left and the ball at its 33.  On third down with less than 10 seconds left in the half the Indians attempted a pass.   Jarrod Jones stepped in front of the aerial, racing 64-yards to score as the clock reached 0:00.

Prattville added a two point conversion from Pettway for a 30-7 lead at half time.

Majority of Prattville’s starters ended their game midway of the third quarter after the Lions recovered a Millwood fumble at the Wetumpka 8-yard line.  Jarrod Jones fell on the loose pigskin.  On first down Pettway rifled a bullet to Seth Knotts in the corner of the end zone.  Knotts made a magnificent catch with a defender hanging on his back.  Prattville 37 Wetumpka 7 with 9:13 left in the quarter.

A minute and 12-seconds later Prattville made it 44-7 as defensive back Walter Steele intercepted Millwood’s pass at the Lion 42 and raced 58 yards to score.

With a large number of reserves playing neither team could muster much offensive prowness for the remainder of the game.

Wetumpka did put together a 64-yard drive to Prattville’s 6-yard line.  The drive fizzled on third down when Hutchinson’s pass was slightly under thrown to Lacey Jackson in the end zone forcing a 28-yard attempt at field goal.  Lindsay’s field goal was wide right at 3:36.

Early in the final quarter Wetumpka took over at the Lion 49.  The Indians put together an 8-play drive to tack on their second touchdown.  Hutchinson scoring on an 11-yard scoot around left end with 11:05 left in the game.