FROM STAFF REPORTS

Many running back duos over the years have garnered catchy nicknames to represent a team’s ability to insert either player into the backfield and get a positive, yet different result.  Smash and Flash, Crash and Dash, as well as Thunder and Lighting are all representative of the backfield combination of the Eagles’ ShaKeith Tyes and Kyle Harrell.  Harrell piled up 218 yards and three touchdowns on the ground while Tyes added another 176 yards and one score to lead the Eagles in a 43-13 victory over 5A Region 4 opponent Central Tuscaloosa Falcons.

On the first drive of the game the Eagles defense stood strong in the red zone and forced the Falcons to attempt a field goal.  The attempt was no good and the Eagle offense took over at their own 20 yard line.  Following a 47 yard run by Tyes, Harrell punched it in from 13 yards out to put the Eagles on the board first with 7:10 left to play in the first quarter.

On the Falcons’ next possession, the Eagle defense forced a three and out allowing the Eagle offense to take over at their own 26 yard line.  Six plays later Harrell was off to the races again and scored his second touchdown of the night on a 50-yard run.  Austin Ford’s PAT was good and the Eagles found themselves up 14-0 with 2:27 left in the first quarter.

A sack by sophomore linebacker Alex Dozier ended the Falcons next drive, forcing a punt.  On the ensuing possession, the Eagle offense was stopped for the first time and was forced to punt.  After a 60-yard punt by junior Zach Gaines, the Falcons took possession of the ball on their own 30-yard line.

On their ensuing possessions, both teams traded punts before the Falcons finally got on the scoreboard with 3:55 left to play in the second quarter.  The Eagle offense quickly responded.  After a five play drive highlighted by a 61-yard run by Harrell, quarterback Ty Evans found the end zone from two yards out.  Ford’s PAT was good and the Eagles led 21-7 with 1:58 to play in the second quarter.

On the Falcons’ next possession, a sack by senior defensive end Ty James brought the Falcons scoring hopes to a halt and the half ended with Calera up, 21-7.  Following a fumble by the Eagles on their opening possession of the second half, a Kyle Harrell sack made the Falcons punt yet again.

The big plays continued for the Eagles, as Harrell found the end zone again on a 57-yard dash to put the Eagles up 27-7 with 6:59 left in the third quarter.  Senior defensive end Dylan Reddin stuffed a Falcon run on third down of the following possession which forced the Falcons to punt once again.  The Eagles were unable to get a first down on the next drive and after a Gaines punt, the Falcons took over at their own 23 yard line.

A sack by sophomore linebacker Jeramy Dozier thwarted the Falcons’ next drive and the Eagle offense gained possession at their own 37 yard line.  Two plays later senior ShaKeith Tyes rambled 55 yards into the end zone giving the Eagles a 33-7 lead going into the fourth quarter.  After an eight play drive, the Falcons scored their second touchdown of the night to make the score 33-13 Calera with 9:21 left to play in the final quarter.

On the next possession the Eagles put points on the board once again with a nine play drive culminating with a 45-yard field goal by Ford.  That score increased the Eagles’ lead to 23 points with 5:57 left to play.  After holding the Falcons on a fourth down attempt, sophomore running back Trez’ Harris carried the ball four times on the next drive and capped the scoring for the night with a three yard touchdown plunge.  That made the final score 43-13 and gave the Eagles their second win of the year.

Head coach Wiley McKeller said he was pleased with the team’s effort in the win, stating “last week everyone in our program took ownership of getting back to the physical style of play that makes Calera football successful.  Our athletes, both offensively and defensively, took that challenge tonight and had a lot of fun doing it.”

Calera will host region opponent Jemison at Ricky M. Cairns Memorial Stadium on Sept. 19.