By CHRIS MEGGINSON / Special to the Reporter

EUFAULA – Calera was unable to counter a 41-point second half by the Eufaula Tigers, falling on the road, 48-27, in the opening round of the AHSAA Class 5A playoffs.

The Eagles opened the game with a six-play, 61-yard scoring drive to go up 6-0 on a Charles White touchdown run, but Eufaula answered, 7-6, with a 90-yard kickoff return by James Purswell.

Calera regained the lead, 12-7, as Kyle Harrell capped a 73-yard drive with a 6-yard run to open the second quarter. Ty Evans extended the lead with a 6-yard touchdown run, 19-7, with 3:34 to play in the half. The score remained at the break.

Eufaula took control in the third quarter, beginning with a 46-yard touchdown run by JuJuan Wingham on the second play of the half to make it 19-14. Jay Johnson later sprinted for a 41-yard score to regain the Tigers’ lead, 21-19.

Calera fought back for a 27-21 lead with 5:32 to play in the third, but Eufaula struck twice more on touchdown runs of 24 and 33 yards by Johnson and Justin Warren, respectively, to take a 34-27 lead into the final 12 minutes. The Tigers added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter by Warren and Thomas Jackson, while shutting out the Eagles.

Eufuala finished the game with 313 yards rushing, compared to Calera’s 305 yards of total offense. Johnson and Warren each had two touchdowns for the Tigers.

Harrell led Calera’s ground game with 90 yards on 11 carries. White had 54 yards. Evans accounted for 151 yards of offense, rushing for 38 and completing 10-of-27 passes for 113 yards

Senior punter Zach Gaines, an All-State selection in 2014, returned to the field for the first time since being injured week one. He had two punts for 89 yards.

Calera ends its season with a 7-4 record and 13^th playoff appearance in 14 years. Eufaula (9-2) will travel to Jackson High School next week for round two.