By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

OPELIKA–The Helena Huskies football team couldn’t overcome a sluggish first half in their second round matchup with the undefeated Beauregard Hornets in the 5A AHSAA playoffs and the Hornets ran away with a 30-7 victory to end the Huskies season.

Beauregard wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Hornets running back La’Damian Webb burst through the line for a long touchdown run from the first play of scrimmage to put the Hornets up 6-0.

Webb would finish the first half with 11 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

After a three and out for the Helena offense, Huskies quarterback Riley Davis threw a deep ball intended for wide receiver Kourtney Moore but it was picked off by the Hornets Dainyton Thomas.

Helena’s offense struggled most of the game, but especially in the first half and Helena head coach Watt Parker said it’s very hard to win against a good team when things aren’t clicking offensively.

“They’re very good and we knew they were very good and the first half we were just off,” said Parker. “We knew we were going to have to throw the ball some and we were off throwing the ball and had some drops late in the half where we had a chance to close it a little bit. But I was proud of how the guys did come back in the second half and battle hard but that’s what happens when you play a really good football team. You’re not allowed to make any kind of mistakes.”

Beauregard scored on a jet sweep as well as another long run by Thomas and the Huskies went into the locker room down 23-0 at half.

Despite the sluggish start, Helena played much better in the second half and got some momentum early in the third quarter when Moore returned a Hornets punt for a touchdown to cut Beauregard’s lead to 23-7.

Despite gaining momentum in the third quarter, the Huskies offense was never able to put a solid scoring drive together.

A touchdown late in the game by Jacob Callaway capped off a 30-7 victory for Beauregard to keep their undefeated season alive.

Despite the loss, Helena made many strides in their second year as a program finishing 9-3 overall and winning the program’s first playoff game in history and Parker was proud of how the seniors established the program.

“We established what we wanted to be about,” said Parker. “It’s the job of the underclassmen to take the legacy left by our seniors and to do something with it. Is it going to become part of who we are and what we want to be about? I think our guys have accepted that and I appreciate the way they bought in this year.”