I feel a formal apology is due to any officiating crew from the Montgomery area that has ever been yelled at. Because the officiating that was witnessed in Mobile Friday night was on another level of terrible. Sometimes when you play an opponent, you might say it seemed like they had more than 11 men on the field. Well, last night you could count the eight officials as among the opponents ACA played against. As one spectator put it, “We have to play the Leopards and the zebras tonight.” The ironic part of the matter is that Mobile Christian was the better team on the field and didn’t need the charity from the men in stripes.
Despite the loss, the Alabama Christian team can feel good about the season and what they accomplished. A very young team posted seven wins on the year, including a six game winning streak. The majority of starters will return next year and optimism is high as Coach Dockins heads into his second year at the helm.
The Mobile Christian defense was prepared to stop ACA’s number one option in Micah Merritt. The Eagles first series was a three and out as they ran the ball three straight times. The home team scored on its first possession aided by a phantom late hit on the sidelines on a crucial third down play. To the credit of the Leopards quarterback, he flopped in a manner that would make Lebron James proud and the young official on the backside fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Mobile Christian scored two plays later and led 6-0 after Levi Summers blocked the extra point attempt. The next ACA possession ended with an interception to give the ball back to the Leopards. Keenan McCarthy’s sack on first down forced a throw on second down. On the pass attempt, the receiver that was being thrown to was downfield blocking with a couple of his lineman buddies, but no flag was thrown. Coach Dockins went to three different officials for an explanation, but the tribunal of incompetence had no explanation. The defense did force a punt, however Alabama Christian was flagged for 12 men on the field which allowed a first down. Mobile Christian could not take advantage of the miscue as McCarthy closed out the possession the same way it started, with a sack. The second sack was on fourth down and turned the ball back over to ACA to close out the first period.
On the first play of the second, Mason Henry threw to Levi Summers in what appeared to the football watching world to be pass interference, yet no flag was thrown. The same official who missed the first two added a third notch in his belt. ACA punted on fourth down as the Leopards offense retook the field. Once again the defense and Keenan McCarthy continued to shine as a solid hit on a receiver led to a McCarthy fumble recovery. On the second play of the next series, ACA schemed a play that confused the Leopard defense as Mason Henry found Ethan Dabney behind the defense for an apparent 67-yard game tying touchdown. Unfortunately, the play totally stumped the officials who called ACA for illegal participation wiping out the score. Moe, Larry, and Curly once again could not give a valid defense for the call. The Eagles turned the ball over on the next play and the momentum squarely lay with the home team and officials. Mobile Christian marched down the field with an eight-play, 73-yard drive to lead 12-0 with 5:53 left in the half. On the missed extra point, our favorite young official had to wait until his partner waved the kick as no good before he made a move although the attempt missed on his side of the goal post. Another three and out and a short punt set up Mobile Christian at their own 44-yard line to start their next drive. The Leopards scored with 51 seconds left in the half to take an 18-0 lead into halftime.
ACA’s first big break of the night came at the start of the second half. The Eagles forced a three and out to force a Mobile Christian punt. The snap sailed over the punter’s head and Levi Summers recovered the ball on the opponent’s 5-yard line. Micah Merritt punched it in from a yard out on fourth down to cut the lead to 6-18 after a failed two-point conversion. Mobile Christian responded quickly, not wanting ACA to grab momentum. The Leopards scored a touchdown with 7:13 left in the third for a 25-6 lead. Bryson Dabney’s kick return set up ACA around midfield. The Eagles moved the ball to the home team’s 5-yard line and David Johnson kicked a 22-yard field goal to cut the lead to 9-25. On the ensuing kickoff, Johnson sent a missile at the up-man in the middle of the Leopards kick return team. The carom, which was sure to leave a mark, was recovered by Logan Foster to give the offense another chance to score. Once again, ACA drove inside the 10-yard line but was forced to settle for a field goal. Johnson connected from 24 yards to run the score to 12-25.
As the fourth period started, Mobile Christian turned the ball over on downs, but ACA was unable to move the ball and punted back to the home team. The Leopards sealed the victory with an eight-play, 63-yard march to take a 31-12 lead with 4:50 left in the contest. The Eagle offense turned the ball over on fourth down to end the next drive. Mobile Christian ran off the remaining 3:10 left in the game for the win.
Levi Summers led the defense with eight tackles followed by Cooper Milner with six tackles. Mekhi Gardner and Aidan Whiten both had five tackles while five Eagles, LaDarius Walters, Noah Shack, Keenan McCarthy, Charlie Hibbard, and Ethan Dabney, had four tackles. On offense Mason Henry completed eight passes for 109 yards with Ethan Dabney leading the receivers with three receptions for 53 yards. Micah Merritt finished with 39 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown.