THURSDAY PREPS: Davis, Generals run past Eufaula in regional opener

Reggie Davis (22), Jakel Williams (11) and the Robert E. Lee Generals knocked off Eufaula on Thursday in the Class 6A, Region 2 opener for both teams. (Tim Gayle)

By GRAHAM DUNN

The bruising rushing attack led by Reggie Davis was more than the Eufaula Tigers could handle in Robert E. Lee’s 25-10 victory on Thursday night at Cramton Bowl.

The Generals won their first game in Class 6A Region 2 action behind Davis, who rushed for 301 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.

The Eufaula defense bottled up Davis early, keeping him in check for most of the first half. Last week against Jeff Davis, he had a big first half with 208 yards.

On Thursday, he saved his best for last with 197 yards in the second half, including to big runs of 78 and 26 yards that set up Lee’s final two touchdowns.

The Tigers, coming off an upset of Central-Phenix City a week ago, looked as though it would earn their third win of the season after taking a 7-0 lead on a Jay Lewis touchdown run of 4-yard with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half. They added a Brando Morales 33-yard field goal later in the second quarter to give Eufaula the advantage at halftime.

In between, Lee got its first points on Davis’s first touchdown of the night, a 13-yard scamper with 1:34 left in the half.

Eufaula’s 10-6 lead would last for most of the third quarter until Lee quarterback Jakel Williams scored on a 2-yard run. The score was set up by a Davis 22-yard run on the prior play. Lee missed its second-consecutive extra point try of the night but led, 12-10, with 1:05 left in the period.

Eufaula would take the ensuing kickoff and drive to the Lee 12-yard line but Morales missed on a 29-yard yard field goal attempt, which would have given the Tigers the lead.

Two plays later, Davis went to work again, taking the direct snap and racing 78 yards to set up a 3-yard run for a score by Brian Thomas. Willie Tarver converted the extra point to give Lee the 19-10 advantage with just over eight minutes remaining.

Eufaula was unable to convert a fourth down deep in Lee territory and the Generals would score again after Davis rushed for 26 yards to the Tigers’ 8-yard line. Davis finished the drive of 30 yards on an 8-yard run and a score.

Thomas finished with 90 yards on the ground for the Generals, who finished 411 yards rushing for the night.

Lee’s defense managed to keep the Eufaula in-check for much of the night. The Tigers totaled 291 yards including 160 yards passing by Hess Horne. Eric Stewart added an interception for the Lee defense, the only turnover of the game for either team.

Lee (2-1, 1-0 6A/Region 2) returns to Cramton Bowl next Friday to take on city rival Sidney Lanier. Eufaula (2-1, 0-1) faces Opelika at home.