ScoutSouth.com: Prattville's Homecoming

It was homecoming for the Prattville Lions football team Friday night at Stanley-Jensen Stadium. All the old grads had gathered to see the 2007 Lions take on the Sidney Lanier Poets. Most of the former warriors of past gridiron glory days were giddy about the current football team.

They were exuberating with confidence that no way could the Poets even be a ripple for this team. Why even many were declaring this team better than the 2006 state champions.

But Prattville coach Bill Clark wasn't buying into all the hype. "I was worried. Based on what we know about the athletes at Lanier and knowing what a motivator coach (L.C.) Cole is, I was certainly worried."

"We knew they would stack the box and take away the run, so we felt like we had to throw the football."

And throw the ball, the Lions did just that. By the end of the first quarter Prattville had a comfortable 28-0 lead, with three of the scores coming via the air.

Dekendrick Moncrief caught two tocuhdown passes, and even a tipped pass turned into a third touchdown pass by Casey Weston. The fourth Lion score in the opening quarter came when Cedrick Smith plucked an erratic Shaquille Love pass and returned it 27-yards for a score.

The Lions added two more touchdowns in the second quarter, and never looked back. Clark swept his reserves into the fracas during the entire second half. Justin Albert, Casey Weston and gang became spectators as the entire Lion team down to the last sub got valuable playing time.

Lanier tacked on two late touchdowns with less than eight minutes left in the game, as Prattville was down to their fourth and fifth string reserves. At half time the Lions had total domination with 265 yards in offense. The Poets had managed only 86 yards, 28 rushing.

Justin Albert set up the Lions first score taking Larry Carter's punt at the Lanier 46 and returning it to the 36 after the Poets went three-and-out following the opening kickoff.

The Lions scored in seven plays with Weston firing a strike to Dekendrick Moncrief with 8:09 left in the quarter. Sung Hyun Bae kicked the first of seven extra points.

Following Bae's touchback kickoff, Cedrick Smith picked off Love's pass on first down and raced into the end zone for a score.

The Poets picked up one first down on the ensuing possession courtesy of a face mask penalty against the Lions. The drive bogged down and Carter's punt rolled into the end zone.

Prattville then drove 80-yards in five plays with Weston's pass being deflected into Albert’'s hands. Albert took it the rest of the way untouched for a 21-0 lead with 1:46 left in the quarter.

The Poets again went three-and-out, and Carter punt's was returned 14 yards by Albert to the Lion 41. Weston fired a bullet to Emmanuel Davis for 18 yards on first down, and then found Dekendrick Moncrief all by himself in back of the Lanier secondary for the fourth score of the first quarter with 20-seconds still on the first period clock.

Midway of the second quarter Carter got off a terrible punt that traveled only one yard. Prattville took over at midfield and scored in four plays. After Weston mishandled the snap from center and lost back to the Lion 44, he politely took the next snap and fired a 66-yard touchdown pass to Davis with 6:06 still left in the half.

The final first half six pointer came as a result of another Lanier kicking mistake. Backed up to their 13-yard line Carter lined up to punt, but got a high snap, and the pigskin rolled into the end zone. Rather than take a sack for a safety, Carter threw the ball up field. The Poets were guilty of ineligible receiver down field. Prattville took over at the Lanier 13.

Four plays later Albert raced over from the four-yard line with 2:46 left for the final first half score and a 42-0 lead.

The second half was a series of every player dressed getting some game action. Clark used Cade Lawrence and Brandon King at the quarterback position. However most of their action was handing the ball off to an assortment of running backs.

Prattville's reserves added a touchdown with 2:39 left in the game. Joshua Thomas scored on a three-yard run following a short 20-yard drive that was set up by a Lewis Haley pass interception.

Lanier scored two touchdowns in the final quarter. The first came with 7:55 left, when Love hit Payne with a pass in the flat, and Payne broke behind the Lions' defensive back, 94-yards. Kenneth Smith kicked the extra point.

The final score came as time was running out with Chris Davidson breaking off tackle for a 75-yard touchdown scamper. Both scores were against Prattville's sophomore reserves, with Lanier's varsity still in the game.

Lanier ended with 237 yards of total offense, however 169 of it came in the fourth quarter on the two plays.

Prattville (7-0, 4-0) will travel to Montgomery Thursday night to take on Robert E. Lee (0-6,0-4) Sidney Lanier (1-4, 1-3) will play Jeff Davis (2-4, 1-3) Friday night at the Bowl, both kicks is 7 p.m.

Should Prattville win they will clinch a playoff spot. Lanier, Selma and Jeff Davis all have mathematical changes for the final playoff berth. Carver (2-3, 2-2) currently is in the fourth position after their 14-7 win over Lee Friday night.

STATS:

Prattville Lanier
First downs------14------8
Rush/Pass/penalty------6-8-0------4-2-2
Rush-Yards--------30-63-------23-110
Passing Yards------253------128
Fumbles/Lost------1-1------1-1
Penalties-------5-40------1-5
Punts------2-93------6-166
3rd down conversion------6-10------2-12
4th down conversion------3-4------0-1
Sacks------4-29------1-9
Time of Possession------24:27------23:33

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