Red Devils spoil Pilots’ Homecoming

Mark Collier

Benita Fuzzell

After a heartbreaking 49-48 overtime loss to West Carroll the previous week, the South Fulton Red Devils traveled to Hickman with their eyes set on snapping the two-game winning streak of the Fulton County Pilots while also ruining their Homecoming celebration Sept. 16.

The Pilots would strike first, scoring with 7:27 left in the first quarter on a 14-yard run by Felix Jackson with two-point attempt successful by JShon Jones to go up 8-0. The Red Devils would eventually even up the score with a minute remaining, when Dallas Whitehead found the endzone on a 63-yard pass from McFarland.

In the second quarter, the teams would trade punts until the Red Devils struck again when Brady McFarland connected with Conner Allen on a 66-yard touchdown strike, and Whitehead converted the two-point attempt to give the visitors a 16-8 lead with 5:45 remaining.

McFarland would throw his second touchdown pass of the quarter to Whitehead on a 17-yard completion with one minute remaining to increase the Red Devils’ lead to 22-8.

The Pilots would get a much needed touchdown before halftime, when Max Gibbs connected to Caden Kimble on a 54-yard pass with 22 seconds left. The Red Devils would take a 22-14 into the lockerroom at halftime.

The Red Devils would strike first in the second half, as McFarland would connect with Connor O’Neal on a 50-yard strike only 45 seconds into the second half. The two-point was successful by Whitehead.

The Pilots would respond as Gibbs would fine Goodman for a touchdown from 16 yards out with 8:50 remaining in the third quarter, but the two-point attempt was unsuccessful.

McFarland would throw a 23-yard pass to Jonathan Doss with 5:17 remaining in the quarter, with the two-point attempt successful to increase the Red Devils lead to 38-20 to end the third quarter.

The Red Devils threatened to score again to start the fourth quarter, but the Pilots intercepted a pass on their own five-yard line.

However, the Pilots would give the ball right back to them, as Quaydyn Morefield intercepted a Max Gibbs pass and returned it to the Pilots’ 15-yard line.

The Red Devils would convert off the Pilots’ turnover, as Whitehead rushed from two yards out for a touchdown, although the two-point attempt was no good.

The Pilots would respond as Gibbs connected on an eight-yard pass to Ian Goodman, and the two-point attempt was good as Gibbs ran in it to cut the Devils’ lead to 44-28.

Red Devil Whitehead once again found the endzone on a 25-yard run, and converted the two point attempt afterwards with three minutes remaining.

The Pilots refused to give up, as Gibbs once again found Goodman for a touchdown, this time on a 26-yard pass with two minutes remaining. The two-point attempt was successful.

However, the Pilots ran out of time and the Red Devils came away with a 52-36 road win.

Both teams’ rushing attacks were practically even, as the Pilots rushed for 146 yards while the Red Devils rushed for 147 yards.

The Red Devils had the edge through the air though, as the Red Devils had 317 passing yards to the Pilots’ 215 passing yards.

Pilots’ quarterback Gibbs completed 13 of his 26 passing attempts, including three touchdowns and one interception.

Kimble led the Pilots with 92 receiving yards, on four receptions, including one touchdown, followed by Goodman with 54 yards on three receptions and two touchdowns, Jones with 46 yards on four receptions and McCauley 23 yards on two receptions.

Gibbs had a team-high 75 rushing yards on 14 carries, including one touchdown, followed by TyAvious Isbell with 39 yards on five carries, Jones 17 yards on two carries, McCauley 16 yards on five carries including one touchdown, and Luke Jackson -1 yards on one carry.

Defensively for the Pilots, Carson Oldaker had 14 tackles, including two for losses and .5 sack, followed by Jackson with 11 tackles, including two for losses and .5 sack, RuMarriez Westbrook with seven tackles, including four for losses and one sack, David Allison and Jones with five tackles each, Isbell with four, McCauley and Goodman with three each, Jason Mathews, Zayden Kinney and Kimble with two each, and Marcus Bonds, Felix Jackson and Jovan Westmoreland with one each.

Two fumbles were forced by the Pilots, one each by Westbrook and Allison, and Goodman intercepted one Red Devils’ pass.

For the Red Devils, Conner Allen’s five receptions added up to 151 yards in the South Fulton effort, Red Devil Dallas Whitehead tallied 97 yards from his four receptions from McFarland, Connor O’Neal had 64 yards from two receptions and Jonathan Doss, 23 yards from one reception.

South Fulton’s Dallas Whitehead also rushed for 156 yards in 23 carries, Brady McFarland, nine yards in three carries and Josh McKnight, three carries for -7 yards in the game.

Will Clapper led the Devils with six tackles against the Pilots, with Josh McKnight tallying 5.5 tackles.

Quadyn Morefield had five tackles on the night, plus an interception to his credit, Conner Lawrence, four, Tim Davis, 3.5, Harley Nagle, three, and two tackles each were recorded for Conner Allen, Bradyn Costello and Luke Morris.

Conner O’Neal, Jacob Nagle and Joseph Mathias had one tackle a piece, and Dylan Bynum, five.

For the Red Devils quarterback McFarland completed 12 of his 23 passes for 335 yards.

The Pilots dropped to 2-3 on the season, and will remain at home as they host the Trigg County Wildcats Sept. 23 beginning at 7 p.m.

The Red Devils improved their record to 2-3 and will return home to host the Dresden, Tenn. Lions Sept. 23 beginning at 7 p.m.