Photo by: Vikki Peay
With a bitter taste in their mouth after suffering their first loss of the season, a 76-68 District 1E road loss to Calhoun Academy, the 3-1, 1-1 North Sunflower Academy Rebels now face their final open date of the season.
While owning two weeks with which to prepare for their Oct. 6 Homecoming clash with visiting Delta Academy of Marks, NSA Head Coach Michael Ward noted “We did well offensively against Calhoun but we did not play that well defensively and overall could not catch a break in the game.”
The game did in fact live up to its’ promise of much offense as the Rebels rushed for 422 yards and were led by Austen Redwine’s 231 yards and three touchdowns earned on 15 carries.
The senior’s memorable night would ultimately end with his having accumulated 28 points (10 by way of two point conversions) and 332 yards of total offense.
The Rebels’ opened their scoring in this game with a 21 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jacolby Brown to Bo Dawson, which along with a two point conversion knotted the game at eight points apiece.
However, NSA would own a 16-14 lead by the end of the first quarter following Bennett Boykin’s 65 yard run to the end zone.
And then the scoring really began by these two teams.
With a total of eight touchdowns scored in the second quarter, the Rebels still remained on top by a 46-40 margin when the first half of play ended.
The Rebels would open the scoring in that second frame when Brown scooped up a fumble and rambled 76 yards for the score.
Although Calhoun Academy answered to cut the deficit to 24-20, the Rebels responded with a pair of touchdowns, beginning with an 11 yard run by Redwine.
This was followed two possessions later with an 18 yard TD pass from Bennett Boykin to Jaden Patterson.
Following a Cougars score, Bennett Boykin then broke free in route to a 36 yardscoring run to give NSA a seemingly commanding 46-26 lead.
However, Calhoun Academy would notch a pair of late-period TD’s to take the score to its’ six point halftime margin.
While both teams swapped scores in the third period as Brown’s one yard run was followed by a 58 yard sprint to the end zone by Redwine, the fourth quarter proved to be the Rebels’ undoing.
Down 60-54 entering that final frame, the Cougars would find the end zone three times while the Rebels only TD came by way of a Redwine 14 yard run to paydirt; thus enabling the Calhoun Academy to escape with the win.
Offensively, the Rebels also received a strong rushing attack from Bennett Boykin, whose 17 carries would net 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Through the air, Brown completed three of his five passes for 82 yards and a TD with Redwine’s pair of catches picking up 61 of those yards.
Meanwhile, Dawson and Patterson pulled in one pass apiece picking up 21 and 18 yards respectively as well as a touchdown apiece (one of which was thrown by Boykin).
Defensively, Patrick Boykin’s nine solo, eight assist night of play led the Rebels’ efforts while Brown (9 solos, 7 assists) and Redwine (12 solos, 3 assists) more than made their presence known.
Also adding an interception to his night’s play was sophomore Stephen Chamblee.
