Freedom 21
Alexander Central 7
When a team is battered and bruised, bully them. That’s what Freedom did Friday night in beating Alexander Central in Taylorsville.
The Cougars lost their fourth straight game to conclude a disappointing, injury riddled, 4-6 season. Freedom used some old-fashioned smash-mouth football in improving to 5-4.
The game was something of a slog at times with 26 accepted penalties.
Freedom scored with 23 seconds remaining in the opening quarter when Curt Young ran into the end zone from 13 yards. The Patriots added the point after touchdown and led 7-0. The Cougars offense went their first three possessions before they picked up a first down and never threatened in the first half.
AC took the second half kick and marched 55 yards in 9 plays capped by Russell Frasier’s 7 yard run into the north end zone. Daniel Specht added the extra point and the game was even at 7. Then Freedom decided to hand it to the big guy, a lot !
Freedom fed fullback BG Hampton almost non-stop for the rest of the night. The visitors from Morganton answered the Alexander Central score marching 89 yards in 16 plays capped by Hampton’s one yard run. The drive consumed 8:17 seconds. After a Cougar punt the Patriots marched 50 yards in 9 plays ending with a 3 yard Hampton run.
ACHS moved the ball inside the Freedom 30 in a final seconds but the verdict was decided when Tanner Moore’s pass was intercepted.
Freedom out gained the Cougars 230-169 yards led by Hampton’s 141 bruising yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns.
Senior Dalton Beck led the AC defense with 13 tackles. Nate Erkman intercepted two passes for the Cougars who graduate 11 seniors.
Area Scores
Watauga 48 Ashe County 0
Hibriten 28 South Caldwell 18
Statesville 34 Hickory 16…Wednesday
North Lincoln 37 East Lincoln 14
West Lincoln 21 Lincolnton 18
North Iredell 10 West Iredell 0
St Stephens 40 Foard 10
Mooresville 14 Lake Norman 0
Cox Mill 29 South Iredell 22…ot
Weddington 23 Marvin Ridge 18
Maiden 25 Newton Conover 7
Bunker Hill 42 Bandys 21
East Burke 28 West Caldwell 18
West Wilkes 12 South Davidson 6
Forbush 28 Wilkes Central 0
North Surry 46 North Wilkes 32
Starmount 21 East Wilkes 0
Chase 41 RS Central 29
Hendersonville 70 Patton 20… Wednesday
Mountain Heritage 45 Draughn 20…Wednesday
Shelby 16 Burns 14
Crest 42 Kings Mountain 20
AC Reynolds 60 McDowell 0