Alexander Central 30 McDowell 28
Marion: An old rivalry was renewed Friday night and it went down to the final play when Alexander Central hung on to beat McDowell.
The Cougars took a lead in the first quarter when Aiden Daigle hit a 30 yard field goal. McDowell would answer with 34 seconds remaining the opening period on a 13 yard pass from QB Danny Brown to Lincoln Cole.
Alexander Central’s Jaquis Parks streaked into the end zone from 35 yards with 8:32 in the half, it was 10-7 in favor of the visitors.
The Titans would go to half with a 14-10 lead on Danny Brown’s 14 yard run.
The second half kick-off was returned 94 yards for a score by Jeremiah Whitaker giving AC a lead at 17-10. The Cougars would take a two-score lead at the 4:38 mark of the third when Sawyer Chapman-Mays powered-in for a score from 8 yards. It was 23-14 and it turned out AC would not trail again.
Jordan Barnett would pull the Titans to within 23-21 on a 4 yard run with 10 seconds left in the third.
The game-clinching drive would see Mays score from 5 yards for Alexander Central at the 2:55 mark of the fourth quarter. AC’s drive covered 94 yards on 13 plays. The lead was 30-21 !
Back comes McDowell within 30-28 with 2:27 remaining when Barnett scored from three yards.
The game was sealed when the Cougars blocked a Titan field goal with 13 seconds from 30 yards.
McDowell out-gained ACHS 359-342. AC rushed for 322 yards.
Jeremiah Whitaker paced the Cougar rushing attack with 110 yards on 14 carries. QB Jaheim Redmond, starting at QB for the first time, added 98 yards on 15 carries.
McDowell QB Danny Brown was 19-35 for 192 yards and a touchdown.
The Blue and Gold improve to 2-5 on the season and 1-1 in Northwestern Conference play. McDowell drops to 5-2 and 1-1.
The Cougars beat McDowell for the 10th-straight time and now lead the overall series 18-17.