Lions and Tigers and defense oh my

Story by Virginia Barber | CASB Writers Club

PRATTVILLE — The Tigers from Auburn High School traveled to Stanley-Jenson Stadium for a region matchup with the Prattville Lions. It was definitely worth the gate fee to see these two teams battle until the end, literally until 1 second was left on the clock ending the game in a controversial time issue.
The first quarter was all defense on both sides. The crowd was loud and the defensive teams played off of the noise, playing lights out.

With the start of the second quarter and the score 0-0, someone was bound to score soon but there was the Lion defense again holding the visiting Tigers down and forcing a field goal that went to the right of the post. Keeping the score gridlocked with 11:16 left before halftime.

Auburn’s defense did not let up after the missed field goal, they came out with revenge with an interception to put them at their own 15 yard line.

Auburn was the first to put points on the board courtesy of Bakari Daily to take a 7-0 lead. 

Intensity seemed to flow throughout the course of the game as both sides dealt with unsportsmanlike conduct calls, altering the possessions of both the Lions and the Tigers.

The other theme was also the play of the defenses. 

Auburn put pressure on Prattville’s quarterback, EJ Ousley the entire game forcing him to make plays that were not intended.

The Prattville defense stepped up and picked off an Auburn pass. But, the Tigers stepped in front of an Ousley pass to flip the field on the very next play.

The visiting Tigers – with 36 seconds left before halftime – tossed a pass to the end zone only to have it batted away by the Lions secondary. Very next play – pass to the end zone batted away by Prattville. 

However – after missing a field goal earlier – Auburn’s Josh Owsley split the uprights from 40 yards out to put the Tigers up 10-0 going into the locker rooms. 

The Lions took the ball to start the second half,  but Auburn held them off and forced a punt. Here comes the Lion defense once again in another battle to hold the Tigers from scoring.

Eric Bentley for the Prattville Lions gets a sack with 6:10 left in the 3rd quarter. After a huge defensive play, Auburn’s offense steps on 4th and 5 and connects with Jamarrus Woods who makes a great catch to score the second touchdown of the nightmoving the mark to 16-0, with the kick Auburn pushed ahead 17-0..

Prattville’s offense finds a chip in the armor of the Auburn defense and sends a long pass to Cameron Richardson for the first down. Omarion Parks – on first down – runs the ball in for the first Prattville touchdown of the night and the kick is good. Despite the score, Auburn still held on to a 10-point lead (17-7) with 3:45 left to go in the third. 

The horn sounds and the four fingers go up in the air signalling the start of the final quarter. 

It’s all Auburn at this point but Prattville refused to simply go down that easily. 

Owsley split the uprights on his second touchdown of the night to expand their lead, 20-7. 

With 2:43 left in the game, Ousley hits Cameron Shanks on a long pass. He makes an incredible catch and runs the ball in for a Prattville touchdown. The crowd is on their feet and Stanley-Jensen is rocking on both sides.

The Tigers had an opportunity to further their lead, but with 1:05 left before the final horn sounds, Auburn’s field goal holder mishandled the snap allowing Prattville to pounce on the loose ball with 65 seconds left in the game. 

Ousley completed a pass to Alexander Peake with :40 seconds left. Ousley – after the short pass to Peak – connected with another Lion chewing more turf. .

The quarterback takes the snap and  hands the ball off to Mi’Uhon Callen to get to the 30 yard line. With nine seconds left in the game the Lions ran a pass play that fell through the hands of the receiver. Even with the drop,  it looked as if the Lions would get one more chance with 1 second on the clock. As the Auburn High Tigers came onto the field to celebrate and the refs walked off the field there was some confusion with the time left.

What seemed like the Lions would have another chance came down to no chance as the game ended with a final of 20-14 Auburn.