AISA PLAYOFFS: Autauga Academy makes easy work of Patrician
Autauga Academy running back Karl Ligon races for yardage in the Generals’ win over Patrician on Thursday. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
PRATTVILLE -- Five plays into Thursday’s Class AA semifinal matchup between Autauga and Patrician, the Saints stunned the crowd as Jay Lindsey burst up the middle for 49 yards and a touchdown.
After kicking off to the Generals, Karl Ligon answered with an 87-yard touchdown run on Autauga’s first play from scrimmage, propelling the Generals to a 53-20 win over the Saints.
“The way football is, you’ve got to have the momentum,” Ligon said. “And I knew at that point, my team needed somebody to go and lift them back up, right now, so I was ready on the first play.”
Autauga (12-0) will face the Chambers-Escambia winner in the Class AA championship game next Friday at Cramton Bowl, making their fifth championship game appearance after going 2-7 a year ago.
“It’s good to be back where we belong,” Autauga coach Bobby Carr said. “But no matter who we play, Chambers or Escambia, we know we’ll get their best. I know our guys will be ready. They’ve answered every challenge we’ve put in front of them all year, from playing a 7A school in Florida to a good 2A school down there that’s still in the playoffs. It’s probably the toughest schedule we’ve had, but it’s to prepare them for this moment next week.”
Autauga had beaten region rival Patrician 42-14 in early September, but the determined Saints rolled into the semifinals riding a wave of confidence after routing Macon East Academy last week in an opening-round matchup. A quick touchdown by Lindsey only fueled that confidence as Patrician caught the Generals’ defense napping.
“It was a quick wakeup call,” Carr said. “I think our kids did a good job responding. We obviously scored on the very first play from scrimmage with Karl. Our plan was to get him some touches out in space and let him do what he does. I thought Rob (Rose) did a good job running our offense and Jaylen Anderson is about as electric as Karl is.
“I’m just proud of our kids because we knew they would come in and play us tough and scrappy. They just keep coming, no matter how bad it is, they just keep coming and coming.”
Patrician (8-3) would manage just two first downs over its next four possessions as Autauga built a quick 30-6 lead. Rose helped direct the next possession down the field as O’Ronde Henderson scored from Wildcat formation on a 1-yard run and a Caden Henry interception set up the next score as Ligon ran 49 yards, then 2 yards for a touchdown and a 23-6 lead late in the first quarter.
By the end of the first quarter, Ligon had 161 yards on five carries. He finished with 15 carries for 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“He told me to hydrate this week and I was ready,” Ligon said. “I think every play is going to be a touchdown. I’m trying to get out of there.”
Ligon now has 1,487 yards and 20 touchdowns on 131 carries this season.
In the second quarter, Autauga extended the lead with Anderson’s 58-yard punt return for a touchdown. Tyler Lewis hit Lindsey with a 46-yard touchdown pass later in the quarter, but Cameron Wright’s 31-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter helped the Generals grab some momentum heading into the locker room.
Just when Patrician held Autauga and forced the Generals to punt in the third quarter, the normally sure-handed Tate Boykin misplayed the punt in the fog and had the ball skip off his hands at the 12 and continued rolling into the end zone, where James Wright recovered for an Autauga touchdown.
“It was good to get a break,” Carr said. “It seemed like we had to fight for everything. Obviously, I’m glad we were able to capitalize on their mistake.”
Rose hit Josh Palmer with a 13-yard slant late in the quarter for a touchdown and Anderson returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown three plays into the fourth quarter, causing both coaches to empty the bench as the Generals started celebrating their return to the state championship game.
“That was the goal,” Ligon said. “Despite everything we’ve been through, that was the main goal. We’ve been through a lot this year. But it’s a great feeling.”
About the only negative for Autauga was 11 penalties for 135 yards.
“Some of that, I couldn’t quite understand,” Carr said. “Some of it -- blindside blocks, we had two of those, and blocking (in the back) behind the play -- are things we talk to our players about every day and we’ve just got to correct that because that can hurt you in a big ballgame.”
The big ballgame will be next week as Autauga faces either Chambers, the team that eliminated them from the playoffs 43-3 a year ago on the way to the AA title, or Escambia, the team Autauga has faced in each of the previous four finals.
“It feels great to be back where we belong,” Palmer said. “Playing under Coach Carr has been a blessing.”
AISA STATE PLAYOFFS
CLASS AAA
FIRST ROUND
Pike Liberal Arts 55, Clarke Prep 0
Glenwood School 54, Morgan Academy 41
Tuscaloosa Academy 31, Valiant Cross 12
Lee-Scott Academy 21, Bessemer Academy 15
SEMIFINALS
Glenwood School (6-4) at Pike Liberal Arts (10-1)
Lee-Scott Academy (8-2) at Tuscaloosa Academy (6-4)
FINALS
Nov. 19, 7 p.m.
CLASS AA
FIRST ROUND
Chambers Academy 42, Wilcox Academy 14
Escambia Academy 60, Edgewood Academy 7
Autauga Academy 47, Banks Academy 14
Patrician Academy 44, Macon East Academy 7
SEMIFINALS
Autauga Academy 53, Patrician Academy 20
Escambia Academy (9-1) at Chambers Academy (10-1)
FINALS
Autauga Academy (12-0) vs. Escambia-Chambers winner, Nov. 19, 3:30 p.m.
CLASS A
FIRST ROUND
Lowndes Academy 34, Pickens Academy 0
Sparta Academy 42, Coosa Valley Academy 14
Jackson Academy 42, Lakeside School 12
Crenshaw Christian 21, South Choctaw Academy 18
SEMIFINALS
Sparta Academy (9-1) at Lowndes Academy (9-3)
Crenshaw Christian (7-3) at Jackson Academy (9-1)
FINALS
Nov. 19, 12 p.m.