Alexander Central 28 Freedom 21
Taylorsville: The Alexander Central Cougars took another step in the school’s football resurgence Friday night beating Freedom in a back-and-forth thriller.
The Cougars entered the night coming off a loss last week at Watauga, a game that left the Cougars knowing they did not play anywhere near their best.
Freedom rolled into the game at 7-1 and the out-right Northwestern Conference Championship in their sights.
The Patriots broke on top 7-0 with 4:15 left in the 1st quarter when JuJu Dominguez collected a 12-yard touchdown pass from QB Ryder Huffman.
ACHS got a 30-yard field goal from Aiden Daigle at the 9:44 mark of the second quarter to make it 7-3.
The teams swapped touchdowns before halftime and visitors from Morganton led 14-10.
AC got a big kick-return from Afton Leslie to set-up a 6 play-38-yard drive capped by Jonas Henson’s plunge into the end zone and the Cougars led 17-14. Daigle would add another field goal from 30 yards to make it 20-14 in favor of ACHS.
The Patriots responded marching the ball 51 yards in 5 plays capped when Christian Chapman scored from 4-yards. Freedom led 21-20 with 4:43 remaining in the game.
Afton Leslie again set-up the Cougars returning the kick to Freedom’s 38 yard line. AC would get the game-winner when Jaquis Parks out-ran the Patriots defense form 25 yards with 1:07 remaining.
The Cougars recovered an angle kick on the ensuing kick-off and ran the scoreboard clock to double-zeros. The win by Alexander Central forces a 3-way tie atop the league standings with Freedom and Watauga. Freedom drops to 3-1 and 7-2 while the Cougars improve to 3-1 and 7-2.
AC travels to South Caldwell next Friday while Freedom will tangle with McDowell in Marion. Watauga travels to St Stephens.
Leaders-Alexander Central
Jaquis Parks 23-112-2 touchdowns
Eli Queen 4-76 yards
Afton Leslie 2 kick returns for 73 yards
Weston Palmer 12 tackles-2 tackles for loss
Jonas Henson 8 tackles -2 tackles for loss
Freedom
Christian Chapman 9-85 yards-1 touchdown
Ryder Huffman 13-17-190 yards passing-1 touchdown
JuJu Dominguez 5 catches-78 yards-1 touchdown
Zaydrin Hausley 12 tackles