MICKEL PONTHIEUX / Sports Reporter

CALERA – Calera High School opened the 2012 season with a dominating 33-6 home win over the Holt Ironmen on Friday, Aug. 31.

The Eagles (1-0) scored first late in the first quarter when Zack Reneau connected with Jordan Bishop for a 56-yard touchdown pass for a 6-0 advantage to end the period.

Calera added to their lead on their first possession the second when Bishop found John Killingsworth on a fake field goal attempt for a 13-0 Eagles’ advantage at the half.

“We knew the first field goal we were going to fake regardless of the situation,” Calera head coach Wiley McKellar said on the trick play. “It was in the game plan and it worked out.”

After accounting for just 12 yards in the first half, senior tailback Sam Adams found the end zone on a 53-yard run on the Eagles’ second play from scrimmage in the third quarter to extend the Calera lead to 20-0.

Adams added another score in the fourth quarter, a 49-yard run, to finish the game with 154 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead all rushers.

“Sam is a great football player,” the Eagles’ head coach said on his tailback. “We have a lot of guys that can go the distance when they touch the ball. We try to spread it around and give those guys equal touches. Tonight, Sam had a big night.”

The Calera defense carried a shutout until the last 58 seconds of the game when Holt scored on a 18-yard pass from backup quarterback Zuriel Kirkwood to LaDarrias Phillips to make the final 33-6 tally.

The game wasn’t without its miscues for the Eagles as they were penalized 11 times for 95 yards.

“Way too many penalties,” said McKellar. “We are going to look at the film and see why so many flags were flying. It took us completely out of our rhythm offensively in the second quarter.

“You can’t make those kinds of mistakes and be successful”

Reneau threw for 135 yards on 9-of-16 passing with a touchdown for the Eagles. Bishop led Calera with 56 yards receiving with a touchdown while throwing for a score.

Devonta Jenkins led the Holt offense with 93 yards in the air on 3-of-6 passing. DJ Matthews led the Ironmen rushing attack with 61 yards.

Calera will open Class 4A, Region 4 play on Friday when they travel to Dora.