Thomasville City Schools

By Barry H. Hendrix

The Thomasville High School Tigers varsity football team lost to Class 2A, Region 1 opponent, the Luverne High Tigers, 50-37 Sept. 18 at D.F. Anderson Field.
Thomasville was hurt by big plays by Luverne. A higher percentage of those explosive plays usually determines the outcome of the game, said Clint Anderson, THS head Football Coach. Turnovers were also a factor.
He was also concerned about special team breakdowns in the kicking game, usually a plus for Thomasville. “We weren’t covering like we were supposed to,” he said. “Against good teams, those can be deciding factors.
“…We couldn’t make key plays at the right time.” There were opportunities where Thomasville could have kept the game in reach. Many of the negative plays were self-inflicted, Anderson said. “You can’t do it against good teams.”
Thomasville’s C.J. Welch was successful with a 25-yard field goal (5:49 in the first quarter).
Luverne’s Ja’daveon McCreary ran the next kickoff all the way for the score (5:37 in the first).
The 2-point conversion run by McCreary was no good. Luverne led 6-3.
Thomasville’s Tyson Davis scored on an 8-yard TD run (55.4 seconds in the first). The point-after kick by Welch was also good. THS led 10-6.
Jayden Laird scored for Luverne with a 5-yard TD run (10:26 in the second quarter). The 2-point conversion by Elliott Harris was also good.
Christian Draper threw 38 yards to Gunnar Lewis for a THS TD (7:52 in the second). The point-after kick was no good. THS led 16-14.
Laird ran 10 yards for a Luverne TD (5:06 in the second). The 2-point conversion by Laird was also good. Luverne led 22-16.
A Thomasville pass was intercepted by Daevon Smith and run back for a TD (3:02 in the second). The 2-point conversion was no good.
Luverne led 28-16.
C.J. Rowden ran for a 1-yard THS TD (2:22 in the second). The 2-point conversion by Hunter Norwood was also good.
Luvrne scored again with a 56-yard TD pass from McCreary to Harris (2:05 in the second). The 2-point conversion by McCreary was also good. Luverne led 36-24.
Luverne had anotherTD with a 96-yard pass play from McCreary to Harris (30.7 seconds in the first half). The 2-point conversion was no good.
Luverne led 42-24 at halftime.
A Luverne pass was intercepted by Gavin Cowan (8:43 in the third). THS had the ball on their own 20-yard line. Eight plays later, Thomasville scored with a 27-yard TD run by Rowden (5:42 in the third). The 2-point conversion was no good. Luverne led 42-30.
Harris scored again for Luvrne with a 1-yard TD run (3:35 in the third). The 2-point conversion by McCreary was also good. Luverne led 50-30.
Rowden scored for THS with a 1-yard run (11:42 in the fourth quarter). The point-after kick was also good. Luverne led 50-37.
Sheldon Collins recovered a Luverne fumble (4:09 left in the game). Thomasville had the ball on its own 7-yard line. Three plays later, a THS pass was intercepted by Luverne’s Harris (2:51 in the fourth). A play later, Thomasville recovered a Luverne fumble. THS had the ball on its own 16-yard line. However, they were later stopped on the final Thomasville drive at the THS 43-yard line.
The THS Tigers (4-1, 1-1 in Class 2A, Region 1) varsity football team will next travel Friday, Sept. 25 to play the Demopolis High Tigers (2-2, 2-1 in Class 4A, Region 3) at Tiger Stadium in Demopolis. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Cash or GoFan will be accepted at the gate.
Dustin Goodwin, a former standout at Demopolis, is in his first year as head coach. “This is a very talented Demopolis team,” coach Anderson said. DHS is packed full of skill players, including Goodwin’s son, Robert “Whit” (11), at quarterback. “He is a really good player. He is very explosive with his feet. He keeps his eyes down field when he scrambles.”
Other Demopolis players of note include receiver Jamaun Watts (4), running back Aidan Burns (31), receiver Christopher Taylor (6), receiver Jordan Cherry (1) and defensive back Emonte Charleston (0).
“The receivers do a really good job in the scramble drill of continuing to move the routes,” Anderson said.
“As usual, they are big upfront. They have a couple of really good backs they roll in. It is going to be a big challenge.”
Thomasville must not let the loss to Luverne carry over for this week. “You never waste a loss,” Anderson said, “an opportunity to correct.” They will learn from those mistakes and be ready for the trip to Demopolis. “We will put in a good week of practice and prepare.”
No doubt, a large contingent of Thomasville fans will make the trip North this Friday.