The St. Clair County defense brings down Alexandria running back Jarline Lee in first quarter action last week. The Valley Cubs won the game 35-7.
They needed a win over Alexandria and a little help, but the win over Alexandria never materialized. The Valley Cubs defeated SCCHS 35-7 last week, dropping the Saints to 3-6 overall. They finished region play 3-4.
Five plays into the game, St. Clair’s Patrick Green intercepted a Valley Cub pass and the Saints were in business at the Alexandria 43-yard line. But St. Clair had problems moving the ball on offense, and turned the ball over on downs.
The two teams traded punts, and then the Valley Cubs got on the scoreboard on an 87-yard touchdown run by Jarline Lee with 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter to make it 7-0.
SCCHS fumbled on the next play from scrimmage and the Valley Cubs recovered. Eight plays later, quarterback Justin Bowen scored on a one-yard sneak. With the extra point by Gabriel Marchal, the score was 14-0 with 9:58 left in the second quarter.
Two plays later, the Saints fumbled again and the Valley Cubs recovered.
Alexandria marched 57 yards in five plays with the touchdown coming on a 2-yard keeper by Bowen to make it 21-0 at halftime.
Three plays into the third quarter, St. Clair fumbled the football again. Alexandria scored two plays later on a 35-yard run by Lee to make it 28-0.
Two plays later, St. Clair fumbled for the fourth time in the game. Alexandria scored two plays later — this time on a 36-yard run by Lee, who finished the game with 198 yards rushing on 19 carries and he didn’t even play in the fourth quarter.
SCCHS did get on the scoreboard late in the fourth quarter, driving 56 yards in eight plays with quarterback Matthew Hicks scoring on a 1-yard keeper. Most of the work was done by Tommy Johnson, who had runs of 16, 3, 3, 7 and 3 yards in the drive. Johnson finished the game with 60 yards rushing. With the PAT by Michael Dragich, the final score was 35-7.
Joshua Hardin was the leading rusher for the Saints with 82 yards, including runs of 36 and 26 yards.
The Saints celebrate homecoming Friday as they host the Childersburg Tigers.
Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes.com.
