Second half rally lifts Ariton over Daleville

The Daleville Warhawks relinquished a 12-point fourth quarter lead as the Ariton Purple Cats came back to win 55-40 on Friday, Sept. 23, in Ariton.

The Warhawks completely dominated the first half, leading by as much as 26-0 at one point, before mistakes and turnovers began to pile up and allowed the Purple Cats to claw their way back into the game.

“The first half was the best we’ve played all year,” Daleville coach Desmond Lett said. “Offensively we were clicking on all cylinders and defensively we were playing our assignments and really playing well.

“In the second half, I think we got too complacent and we turned the ball over too many times.”

Daleville got the high-scoring affair started when running back Jalen White raced 48 yards for a touchdown with 10:25 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion was no good and the Warhawks led 6-0.

On Ariton’s first drive, defensive lineman Cameron Giles blasted Purple Cat runner David Thrash causing a fumble. Defensive tackle Casey Moore recovered the fumble, and the Warhawks had the ball deep in Ariton territory.

Unfortunately, Daleville wasn’t able to put the ball into the end zone again as Ariton held on and forced a turnover on downs.

As Ariton moved into Daleville territory for the first time in the game, the Warhawks responded with another turnover as Giles made a diving interception near midfield.

Three plays later, facing a third-and-16, White danced through the Purple Cat defense for a 51-yard touchdown run with 1:48 left in the opening period. The two-point try was no good and Daleville led 12-0.

The Warhawks forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession and then Melvin Matthews blocked the Ariton punt and Kahenti Terry scooped it up and raced to the Ariton 4-yard line as the first quarter ended.

White then scored his third rushing touchdown of the game on a 2-yard score with 10:41 left in the second quarter. Quarterback Robert Dees completed the two-point attempt with a toss to Matthews and Daleville led 20-0.

Daleville’s Speedy Wiley then intercepted another Ariton pass and returned the interception deep in Purple Cat territory.

Dees then heaved a 32-yard touchdown pass to Peanut Bloodsaw with 9:29 left in the first half. The two-point try failed and Daleville extended its lead to 26-0.

Despite being completely dominated up to that point, the Purple Cats weren’t ready to pack it up and call it a night.

Ariton went on an 8-play, 56-yard scoring drive and capped it off with a 4-yard touchdown run by fullback Russell Carroll with 6:37 left in the second quarter. The PAT cut Daleville’s lead to 26-7.

Sincere McKenzie returned the ensuing kickoff 44 yards and set the Warhawks up deep in Ariton territory once again, but the Purple Cats once again forced a turnover on downs and proceeded to go on another scoring drive.

Quarterback Ian Senn heaved a 40-yard touchdown pass to Thrash with 1:06 left in the first half. The PAT cut the Warhawk lead to 26-14.

Daleville wasn’t done, however, as White broke six tackles on his way to a thrilling 80-yard touchdown run with 30 seconds left in the first half. McKenzie converted the two-point try and the Warhawks took the 34-14 lead into halftime.

Ariton wasted no time getting back on the scoring board in the third quarter as Carroll bulldozed his way through the Warhawk defense for a 32-yard score with 9:59 left in the period. The PAT cut Daleville’s lead to 34-21.

Daleville responded when Dees found Bloodsaw for a 29-yard touchdown pass with 6:41 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion was no good and Daleville still held on to a 40-21 lead. That was the last time the Warhawks would find the end zone.

Ariton proceeded to score 29 unanswered points as the Purple Cats took complete control of the game.

First, Senn scored on a 60-yard touchdown pass to receiver Hayes Floyd with 5:52 left in the third quarter. The PAT cut Daleville’s lead to 40-28.

Ariton then recovered an onside kick but was unable to get any points on the ensuing drive.

McKenzie then raced 41 yards inside the Ariton red zone before coughing the football up and giving the Purple Cats the ball once again.

The Daleville defense responded, however, when White forced Ariton fullback Zachary Ward to fumble and then recovered it himself in the red zone.

Daleville turned the ball over yet again on downs, however, and Ariton had the ball again as the fourth quarter began.

Ariton cut the Daleville lead further when Senn heaved a 48-yard touchdown pass to Lucas Webb with 11:01 left in the fourth quarter. The two-point attempt was no good and Daleville still led 40-34.

Dees pitched the ball over White’s head on the ensuing possession and Ariton took over inside the Daleville 10-yard line. Carroll scored on a 3-yard touchdown run two plays later and the PAT tied the game up 40-40.

After the Daleville offense went three-and-out, the Purple Cats proceeded to return a punt 47 yards inside the Daleville 5-yard line.

Carroll then bulled his way into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown run with 6:35 left. The two-point conversion gave Ariton a 48-40 lead. It was Ariton’s first lead of the game.

Dees threw an interception on Daleville’s next drive and Carroll scored on a 4-yard touchdown run with 2:04 remaining. The PAT extended Ariton’s lead to 55-40.

Dees was intercepted again on Daleville’s next possession and Ariton was able to run the clock out to secure the win.

“They got the momentum in that second half and we let them get back into the game,” Lett said. “That’s where the game shifted. I felt like we thought we had the game won going into halftime with a 20-point lead and we just didn’t come out in the second half ready to play.”

The Warhawks piled up 431 yards of offense and in an odd turn of events, Ariton compiled exactly 431 yards of offense, as well.

Daleville’s White had another big night rushing for 224 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries, while also recording nine tackles, one tackle-for-loss, a pass breakup, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery on defense.

McKenzie added 93 yards on four carries, while Bloodsaw had five catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns. Dees completed 8-of-11 pass attempts for 99 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Defensively, Myles Parris had a big night with eight tackles and one tackle-for-loss. McKenzie also had eight tackles and one tackle-for-loss.

Ariton’s Carroll rushed for 123 yards and five touchdowns on 23 carries, while Senn completed 14-of-23 pass attempts for 231 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Floyd caught five passes for 86 yard and a touchdown. Webb caught five passes for 78 yards and one touchdown, as well.