Lauren Estes

The Blue Devils ventured to Priceville Friday night to take on the Decatur Heritage Eagles, running away with the win 60-37.

The Eagles scored on the opening kickoff on a 76-yard return by Jackson Keith. Parker Sparkman added the extra point to give Decatur Heritage the lead 7-0 only 14 seconds into the game.

Nearly five minutes later, a 20-yard pass play from Falkville’s Ryan Sullivan to Zac Brown put FHS on the board. Sullivan added the PAT and the teams were head-to-head again.

With 6:28 to play in the first quarter, a Blue Devil fumble recovery on the eagle’s 25-yard line set up the next FHS score. Four short plays later, Devin Reed scored on a two-yard carry. Sullivan’s extra point was no good, but Falkville grabbed it’s first lead of the game.

A minute later, Falkville’s domineering defense recovered a second Decatur Heritage fumble of the game which gave FHS another short field to work with on offense.  Starting at the Eagle’s 30., and two short plays later, Caleb Vinson took the ball 27 yards for a touchdown. Sullivan’s PAT was true, and Falkville extended their lead 20-7 with 5:18 to play.

At the 4:56 mark, on the first play of the drive, Eagle quarterback Grayson Wakefield scored on a 63-yard keeper. Sparkman added the extra point and DHS was on the scoreboard.

A four-play drive and a 46-yard run by Sullivan made way for the next Blue Devil Touchdown with 3:49 left in the first quarter. Sullivan also connected the extra point attempt and FHS led Decatur Heritage 27-14.

The final score of the opening quarter came in at the two minute mark on a Wakefield 9-yard keeper for a touchdown. Parker was there to add the PAT.

Sullivan found tall, Andy Dove on a 64-yard pass play for touchdown four minutes into the second quarter. He was also true on the ext a point, giving Falkville the edge 34-21.

Ryan Sullivan connected on a 37-yard field goal attempt with 15 seconds left to play in the first half, FHS leading 37-21.

Caleb Vinson opened up the second half for FHS with a 68-yard run for a touchdown at the10:26 mark, Sullivan was there to add the extra point.

Six minutes later after battling back and forth, Jackson Keith scored an Eagle touchdown on a six-yard carry. Their two-point conversion was successful on a pass from Wakefield to Dakota Hunter., boosting the score 44-29.

Decatur Heritage wasn’t finished scoring in the third quarter and put eight more points on the scoreboard. After picking off Sullivan’s pass, the Eagle’s managed a four-play drive and scored on a 15-yard quarterback keeper by Wakefield. The Eagle’s connected on a sweep from Wakefield to Hunter for another two-point conversion. FHS still lead 44-37.

The fourth quarter opened with Sullivan finding Zac Brown on a 43-yard pass play for a touchdown just 12 seconds into the final 12 minutes of the game.

Sullivan also snuck into the end zone for two point conversion, sending the score to 52-37.

Four minutes later, after a turnover on downs by the Eagles, FHS scored again. Caleb Vinson ran 15 yards for a touchdown and also walked into the end zone for the two-point conversion. The defensive effort would remain strong for the final seven minutes of the game for a final score of 60-37.

Falkville head football coach Joel Schrenk said the Falkville side of the scoreboard demonstrated executed offenses and a tough offensive line, and the Decatur Heritage side, a lack of execution.

“Our offensive line did a great job, our skill players were great,” Schrenk said. “Caleb Vinson was a standout and had several huge runs tonight. We ran the ball well. Defensively, we’ve got to find a way to tackle. We did a poor job of that tonight. Decatur Heritage has a lot of skill players and us lacking on our kick-off coverage, and taking care of jobs hurt us on defense. We are off this week and will be hitting those fundamentals.”

FHS will be off next Friday and will resume play Fri., Sept. 11 at Addison at 7 p.m.