By Justin Fedich | The Selma Times-Journal

After getting off to the best start in school history, the Ellwood Christian Eagles will not make the playoffs this season after dropping their sixth straight game.

A 6-0 halftime lead was squandered when Ellwood Christian (3-6, 0-4) was outscored by 20 points in the second half against class 1A, region 4 opponent A.L. Johnson (2-6, 2-2) to fall 32-18 at Memorial Stadium Thursday. In the second half, Ellwood turned the ball over five times and had a punt blocked to seal its playoff hopes.

“We made some crucial turnovers at crucial moments and in crucial places, and that ultimately cost us,” said Ellwood head coach Trey Pike.

After a scoreless first quarter, Ellwood scored the first points of the game on a 6-play, 81-yard drive that ended with a Taylor Ellis 5-yard touchdown run to take a 6-0 lead.

A.L. Johnson had a chance to tie the score at halftime, but Ellwood’s Christopher Caldwell broke up a game-tying touchdown.

“The turning point was coming out in the second half and playing our brand of football,” said A.L. Johnson head coach Johnney Ford.

A.L. Johnson blocked a punt less than three minutes into the second half, and Ellwood fell on the ball in the end zone, resulting in a safety. On the next drive, A.L. Johnson’s Desmond Mair scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to take an 8-6 lead.

Ellis threw an his first of two interceptions to A.L. Johnson’s Gregory Baker midway through the third quarter. Edward London connected with Baker on a 9-yard touchdown with 2:42 left in the third quarter to take a 14-6 lead.

Just under a minute of game time had ticked off the clock before London hit Baker on a 25-yard touchdown one play after an Ellwood lost fumble.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Ellwood mishandled a punt, and it was fumbled and recovered by A.L. Johnson’s Dell’Vonta Pettaway on Ellwood’s 2-yard line. Johnny Robertson Jr. scored on a 2-yard touchdown to give A.L. Johnson a 26-6 lead.

Despite being down by 20, Pike convinced his players they were still in the game.

“We kept fighting, kept grinding and kept trying to do something, so good for them,” Pike said.

After A.L. Johnson recovered a fumble, Ellwood’s Jeremy Perkins ran back an interception return 10 yards for a touchdown to narrow the score to 26-12. The ensuing onside kick, however, landed in the hands of A.L. Johnson’s Lonnie Henton Jr., and he streaked down the sidelines for a touchdown.

Ellwood scored the final points with a Ellis lateral to Macio Johnson and a Johnson pass to Perkins for a 52-yard touchdown.

Ford knows it hasn’t been the easiest road to the playoffs, but he is glad his team is sitting comfortably in the playoffs with a No. 3 seed.

“Despite our record, we found a way to get into the playoffs which is the most important thing,” Ford said.

Pike said the loss hurt bad, but he is looking forward to next week when his seniors get to play for one last time next week against Selma.

“We’ve got one more time to come out and play and have some fun,” Pike said.