By Derek Thompson

The Opelika-Auburn News

It was a double whammy for Keith Friday night, as the Bears fell to Loachapoka 26-6 and then saw their playoff hopes come to an end when Ellwood Christian defeated A.L. Johnson.

Unlike the Bears. the Indians had already secured a playoff spot, and looked in playoff form offensively Friday, producing over 250 yards of offense.

“We threw the ball a whole lot better, and ran the ball pretty good,” Loachapoka head coach Jerome Tate said. “Defense was good at times, but we can get better.”

Loachapoka senior quarterback Courtland Cox ran in a 20-yard touchdown on the first possession of the game, and tossed a pass to senior wide receiver Cortney Moore for extra points to give the Indians an early 8-0 lead.

Keith (2-7) was able to answer back, but only once when Bears’ running back President Hasberry burst into the open field and ran in a 90-plus yard touchdown on the team’s second possession of the first quarter. Keith missed their extra point.

On the Indians next possession, sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Lee hauled in a 26-yard touchdown pass from Cox on fourth down to make it 14-6. Loachapoka’s two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

With less than five minutes left in the half, Lee pulled in another Cox pass and scored again after senior Melvin Dowell made a catch, and put the Indians in scoring position. After a missed field goal, Loachapoka headed into the locker room with a 14-point lead.

The third quarter was uneventful for both teams. Keith was able to hold the Indians offense to less than 20 yards, and the Bears were unable to put points on the board after a long drive to the red zone.

Loachapoka scored one more time in the fourth quarter to seal the deal. Running back Sherman Callaway ran it in 37 yards to the end zone to make it 26-6 with less than eight minutes left in the game. The Indians attempted another two-point conversion, but were unsuccessful again.

The Loachapoka Indians will take the field in an away game against Reeltown on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.

Keith will host Central Hayneville on homecoming next Friday.