Lions roar in victory over Coosa Valley

Published 1:05 am Saturday, October 25, 2014

Kingwood’s Chase Inabinett looks for extra yardage in an Oct. 24 matchup with Coosa Valley. The Lioins took the contest, 51-8. (Contributed/Diane Cunningham)

By JOSEPH ANTONIO/For the Reporter

ALABASTER — The Coosa Valley Rebels’ woes continued Oct. 24 as the 0-8 squad fell to the Kingwood Christian School Lions, 51-8.

On the game’s first possession, Coosa Valley took the ball down the field and scored on a touchdown run by Saylor Carroll. The Rebels then successfully converted a two-point conversion.

Kingwood immediately responded with a touchdown drive of its own and a safety to tie the game 8-8 with 7:03 left in the first quarter.

Kingwood never looked back, scoring again on an E.J Gant touchdown catch and a successful two point conversion by Gage Sumrall with 3:56 left in the first quarter. Sumrall followed his successful conversion up with an interception that eventually led to another Kingwood touchdown, this time by Charles White. The Lions lead 22-8 after the first quarter of play.

In the second quarter, Kingwood added to their lead with a Dustin Lykens touchdown and a Yatil Gant two-point conversion. At the half, the Lions led 30-8. The third quarter picked up right where the second ended as the Lions’ Chase Inabinett scored a touchdown run with 10:14 left in the quarter. This was followed by another successful two-point conversion by E.J. Gant.

The defense stepped up as well, when Charles White made an interception return for a touchdown with just under four minutes remaining in the third. E.J Gant scored the game’s final points on a touchdown run.

The final tally showed Kingwood over Coosa Valley 51-8.

Lions’ head coach Steve Birmingham said he was very pleased with his team’s performance. “It should give us a little momentum going into this last game where we will be the underdog,” he said. Birmingham said he was most impressed with running back Dustin Lykins who he said “ran the ball really well.”

On the other side, Coosa coach Bob Taylor said getting and keeping his team healthy was the top team goal at this point in the season.

“We just got to get people well, which is difficult this time of year,” he said.

Taylor also said Coosa Valley was playing with its ninth different offensive line this season and finished the contest against Kingwood with only twelve active players.

Coosa Valley moves on to face Chambers at home, while Kingwood travels to Monroe. Both games will be held Oct. 31.