Cougars Fall To Freedom Air Attack

Freedom 38 Alexander Central 6

Thud ! Alexander Central suffered their second straight resounding loss Friday night when the Freedom Patriots rolled over the Cougars 38-6 in Taylorsville. Patriot QB Jayden Birchfield threw for 328 yards and two touchdowns for the visitors, he ran for another score. For the second straight week, Alexander Central’s ground game was stifled as the Cougars were able to amass just 125 yards rushing.

Freedom scored the only points of the opening quarter when Trevon Little ran in from 4 yards with 2:01 on the clock, the conversion failed. From that point on, Birchfield took over the game. He would hit Dezomnd Caldwell on an 85 yard go- route for score early in the 2nd period. The Cougars drew to within 14-6 when Tevin Clark found the end zone from one yard, it was the last time AC would truly be in the game. Less than a minute later, Birchfieled found Caldwell again from 67 yards and the Cougars were reeling. It didn’t help that the Blue and Gold fumbled 3 times in the first half.

Birchfield ran for a score with 1:11 remaining in the first half to make the score 30-6. The second half was as frustrating as the score might indicate for the home fans. Alexander Central simply could not control the line of scrimmage against the visitors from Morganton who crowded the point of attack, daring the Cougars to use their suspect passing game.

AJ Miller found some success, mostly running sweeps, picking up 93 yards on 11 carries. Freedom out gained the punchless Cougars 409-152. After a 5-0 start to the season, coach Butch Carter’s team been outscored 78-6 the last two games. Tray Lackey led the AC defense with 12 tackles on the night.

Next up, a trip to Marion next Friday. Alexander will take on McDowell who beat South Caldwell Friday night 48-28.