High School Sports

ALEXANDRIA — Alexandria senior running back Terrell Stewart's 3-yard plunge off right tackle into the end zone with 11:54 to play was the only touchdown scored in the Valley Cubs' 9-0 season-opening shutout of Anniston at Lou Scales Stadium on Thursday night.

It capped off a 10-play, 37-yard drive that began with 3:51 to go in the third and was followed by an extra point by kicker Rogelio Ortega that probably would've been good from 40 yards out, giving the Cubs a 7-0 lead in a game that was a knock-down, drag-out defensive battle from start to finish.

It was all the offense Alexandria — a team that scored 35 points in its opener at home against Oneonta a year ago — could muster against a hard-hitting and lightning-quick Bulldogs defense.

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Alexandria played the field position game for most of the contest, waiting patiently for an opening. That opportunity presented itself midway through the third quarter, when they scooped up a fumble — one of several Anniston turnovers on the night — off a muffed pitch on a sweep to the left out of the shotgun.

"Both teams were so evenly matched," said Alexandria coach Frank Tucker. "Any turnover was crucial. They have a great defense."

It wasn't pretty — by any stretch of the imagination — but the win, regardless of how it came, was all right with Tucker.

"One of my favorite coaches of all time is (former University of Alabama coach) Gene Stallings, and he got a lot of ugly wins," Tucker said.

What both teams' coaches could take away from the Thursday night special was stellar performances from their defense. Alexandria (1-0) pitched a shutout, holding Anniston to 188 yards of total offense. Anniston limited the Valley Cubs to a mere 144.

"Our defense got a shutout I'm very proud of them," said Tucker of a unit that held off the Bulldogs' final rally. Anniston drove 55-yards down to the Valley Cubs' 13 on the game's final drive.

"Our defensive coaches did a great job. Even though they (Anniston) went to the spread, they still ran the dive a lot and were run-oriented. Our guys just stepped up and made plays."

One of those guys who stepped up and made plays was an old favorite. Alexandria senior quarterback Ethan Vinyard struggled offensively, throwing for just 26 yards and completing only three passes, but he made his presence felt on defense. He forced a fumble on a play across the middle, delivering a nice lick on a receiver on the Bulldog's first play from scrimmage in the second half. That got the Valley Cubs the ball back after Anniston (0-1) converted an onside kick to begin the second half.

"That was a fight," said Vinyard. "We've got teams like Hokes Bluff and Centre, (so) if we would have won in a blowout there would be no way we could have simulated what it's going to be like.

"We needed to play a team that hits like that. I told them in the huddle, 'We got hit in the mouth'. Now we've got to do something.'"

The game — which matched up two teams with five state championships between them — looked as if it might be the perfect replacement for annual Thursday night showdown between Anniston and Oxford that used to attract everyone and their mother in Calhoun County. Alexandria brought its usual Homecoming-like crowd, and Anniston nearly packed out the visitors' bleachers.

"This is what high school football is all about," said Anniston coach Alex Wilson. "It was hard-fought from beginning to end."

One of the bright spots for Anniston was sophomore quarterback Josiah Atkins. The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder showed flashes of his favorite college football player, West Virginia quarterback Pat White. Wearing the same No. 5, the lanky signal-caller completed six of 12 passes for 93 yards. He also rushed for 17 yards.

"We moved the ball well," said Wilson of the Bulldogs' success in the spread. "Out of our pro set it seemed like they knew everything we were doing. So we spread it out, but then the turnovers came again. But these guys never quit. It's the beginning of the season and we've got a lot of football to play."

An intentional grounding penalty called on Anniston in end zone with 7:01 left gave Alexandria the lead at 9-0. It was just the cushion they needed for the rest of the game, as the Valley Cubs pounded the Bulldogs with Stewart, who finished with 122 yards on 28 carries.

"We worked really hard on our conditioning this summer and it paid off," Tucker said. "He (Stewart) wasn't full speed but he was still picking up steam and he got us some tough yards."

Defensive end Michael Heath added a sack for Anniston.

Alexandria will begin Class 4A, Region 6 play on the road against Cherokee County on Sept. 5, while Anniston will begin its Class 4A, Region 4 schedule at Childersburg.