By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–In just year two of the Helena Huskies football program, the Huskies recorded their first-ever playoff win against the Sidney Lanier Poets, winning 24-7 at home to advance to the second round of the AHSAA 5A Playoffs.

Helena head coach Watt Parker was proud of the way his team played to record their first playoff victory.

“I’m super excited for our players and our community and program,” said Parker. “The guys played so hard and Lanier is a phenomenal program and very young.”

Helena’s offense spent no time getting on the scoreboard as they took their opening possession and drove 59 yards in eight plays where Helena receiver Kourtney Moore caught a 30 yard touchdown pass near the front pylon on a fourth and 16 to give Helena a 7-0 lead.

The Poets would answer right back as Sidney Lanier drove the ball to the Huskies 15 yard line where they faced a fourth down and two.

Adreain Johnson would take the halfback toss around right end and score from 15 yards out to tie the game 7-7.

Neither offense could get things going in the second quarter as both teams went into halftime still tied 7-7.

The weather would play a big factor in the second half on a night that featured periods of heavy rains and the Helena special teams made the most of the sloppy weather.

Helena blocked two Sidney Lanier punts, one of which led to a touchdown while the other gave the Helena offense a short field to work with.

After the second blocked punt, Helena quarterback Riley Davis would throw his second touchdown pass of the night to Moore for 19 yards to extend the Huskies lead to 21-7.

Davis finished with 12 completions for 120 yards and two touchdowns while Moore finished with three receptions for 53 yards and two touchdowns.

“We knew we were going to throw it some and we knew the weather was going to be a factor,” said Parker. “Our defense and special teams blocking punts that gave us a short field made it so much better and we couldn’t of done it without the play of the special teams and defense.”

Helena kicker Jeremy Hughes would add a 27 yard field goal in the fourth quarter, bringing the final score to 24-7.

The Helena defense gave up just 107 total yards and held the Poets scoreless in the second half.

Helena improved their record to 9-2 on the season and will travel to Opelika to take on Beauregard on Friday, Nov. 13 in the second round of the playoffs.