Panthers spoil MCS homecoming

Published 3:32 am Saturday, October 3, 2009

SELMA — In what Prattville Christian Panthers’ head coach Grey Powell called a “dagger,” J.J. Hudson returned Meadowview Christian’s opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, setting the tone for the Panthers’ 53-14 road win over the Trojans on their homecoming.

“Anytime you can get that kind of spark it’s electric,” said Powell, whose team ran its record to 5-2 overall. “Hudson is explosive. He’s got 4.4 speed and he’s a good kid, one of our team captains.”

Trojans’ head coach Kenny Strong said his team set up for a pooch kick to start the game, but his team didn’t execute it well.

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“We wound up kicking it down the middle and we had three guys on that side of the field,” he said. “That’s what happens when you kick it to their athletes.”

Prattville added three more TDs in the first quarter with Rashad Matthews scoring two on runs of one and five yards and Andrew Brackins rumbling in from 38 yards out.

“We just came out flat,” Strong said. “I was afraid we would with this being homecoming. It’s such a mental drain on (the players).”

Strong also said his sidelines resembled a M.A.S.H. unit after playing tough, competitive games against Clarke Prep and defending state champions Edgewood last week.

“I don’t want to make excuses, but we had nine (players) out and five of them were starters,” he said. “But my hat’s off to Prattville. They’ve got good, talented athletes and they’re well- coached.”

The Panthers added three more TDs in the second quarter on runs by Brackins (67 yards), Michael Gregory (33) and Matthews (52) to lead 45-0.

Meadowview (0-6) got its own spark with just seconds to go in the first half when senior QB Marc McElhaney caught the kickoff on his own 15-yard line and raced 85 yards for a touchdown to close the first half. The two-point conversion failed and the Panthers took a 45-6 lead into the locker room.

Prattville opened the second half driving to Meadowview’s 4-yard line, but Trojans’ senior DB Justin Freine recovered a fumble stifling the drive. On the Trojans’ ensuing series, however, the Panthers’ Rashaad Williams picked off a pass and raced in from 15 yards out to cap PCA’s scoring on the night.

Meadowview mounted a scoring drive late in the game with McElhaney moving the Trojans down the field using his legs and his arm, hitting Daniel Blackmon on a 35-yard pass play down to the 1-yard line. Senior running back Davis Jones took the handoff from McElhaney and bulled in for the TD. Deavan Steward caught the two-point conversion.

Meadowview entertains Pickens next week while Prattville travels to Marengo for a Thursday night contest.