By JOSH ETHRIDGE/For the Reporter

CHELSEA — The Oak Mountain Eagles used a steady rushing attack to take down the Chelsea High School Hornets on Oct. 4. The final score of the regional matchup was 31-21.

The Eagles received the ball first and quickly established their run game. They put together a 12-play touchdown drive milking 5:45 off the clock. Galon Loyd punched in the score from the two-yard line. With the extra point, the Eagles took a 7-0 lead over the Hornets.

Chelsea responded with a long touchdown drive of its own. On the fourth play of the drive A.J. Jones broke free for a 41-yard touchdown run. The extra point tied things up a 7-7 with 4:24 left in the first quarter.

On their next possession, the Eagles kept the ball on the ground.  They put together a 74-yard drive capped off by another Galon Loyd touchdown run. The extra point gave them a 14-7 lead.

Moments later, Chelsea faced a fourth and long situation. The Hornets set up for a punt but instead ran the ball 29-yards to the Oak Mountain 10-yard line. They were not able to capitalize in the red zone as they turned the ball over on downs inside the five-yard line.

Following an Oak Mountain punt, Chelsea was set up in good field position at the Oak Mountain 33-yard line. They drove the ball inside the ten-yard line again, but had a field goal blocked.

Eagles followed up the block with another touchdown and took a 21-14 lead into the half.

Chelsea put together a 79-yard touchdown drive to start the second half. Adam Holliday hauled in a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Trent Hagin. With the extra point the lead was cut to seven with 5:54 left in the third quarter.

On the next two drives both teams traded touchdowns making the score 28-21 with 4:18 left in the game.

With time running out Chelsea kicked and recovered an onside kick. However the recovery was negated with an illegal touching penalty. Following the recovery, Eagle kicker Blake Miller put the game on ice as he knocked through a 46-yard field goal, making the final score 31-21.

Oak Mountain head coach Chris Bell had high praise for how his team preformed, but was especially pleased with kicker Blake Miller.

“He just lost his brother a couple weeks ago in an automobile accident, but has been a champion all the way through,” said Bell. “He is certainly one of our better weapons.”

Chelsea head coach Chris Elmore was complimentary of the Eagles, but felt that his team left too many points on the field.

“We got inside the ten twice in the first half and we needed to score at least once,” said Elmore. “Really, that ended up being the difference in the game.”

Oak Mountain moves to 3-3 on the season, 2-2 in region play and will take on Spain Park at home. Oct. 11. Chelsea falls to 2-4 overall and 0-4 in the region. The Hornets will face Wetumpka on the road in week seven.