Enterprise secures playoff spot with win over Jeff Davis

The Enterprise Wildcats secured a spot in the Class 7A playoffs with a 60-40 win over the Jeff Davis Volunteers on Oct. 15.

The win puts Enterprise in the playoffs for the third straight year, which is the first time that has happened since the Wildcats made the playoffs eight straight years from 2002 until 2009.

Initially it was believed that Enterprise running back Mykel Johnson also broke the school’s career rushing record as his 135 yards rushing gave him 2,701 career rushing yards. According to the EHS Football History program, released in 2013 and revised in 2019, Steven Kelley held the previous record at 2,576 yards. After it was disputed that this was the case, The Sun searched our records and discovered that Kelley actually rushed for a total of 3,531 yards from 1992 through 1994. This error will be corrected.

The only time the Wildcat offense was stopped against Jeff Davis was when it stopped itself with a turnover and penalties. Enterprise rolled up 489 yards rushing and 572 total yards but was also penalized 12 times for a loss of 119 yards. That’s the third straight game that Enterprise has been penalized more than 10 times.

Enterprise held Jeff Davis to just 112 total yards and 12 points in the first half, but the Vols compiled 127 yards and two touchdowns in their first two plays of the second half. Still, despite allowing 28 points and 286 yards in the second Enterprise’s offense was able to keep the Wildcats comfortably ahead throughout the game. The Wildcat defense also managed to force two turnovers, as well.

Regardless of the successes, the Enterprise coaches were not happy with the mistakes and especially a number of personal foul penalties that occurred when Wildcat players seemed to be reacting to Jeff Davis players.

“We got a big lead and let them come back just like last week,” Enterprise coach Rick Darlington said. “That’s a major concern for us right now.

“More importantly, the way we responded to adversity with (the penalties) was concerning. We didn’t show good character, we weren’t humble and we didn’t have any mental toughness. I was disappointed most with how we handled the adversity, not so much during plays on the field but after the whistle blew when calls or things didn’t go our way.”

Enterprise opened the game with Griffin scoring a pair of touchdown runs from 11 yards nad 33 yards out. A pair of two-point conversions gave the Wildcats a 16-0 lead. Jeff Davis managed to cut the lead to 16-6 after a 7-yard touchdown run and a missed two-point try.

Enterprise closed out the first quarter with Mykel Johnson scoring on a 14-yard run and then catching a 44-yard touchdown pass from Quentin Hayes. Enterprise converted two more two-point tries and took a 32-6 lead into the second quarter.

In the second quarter, Johnson scored on a 7-yard run. The PAT was blocked keeping the score at 38-6. Jeff Davis scored just before halftime on a 6-yard run. A failed two-point try led to a 38-12 Enterprise lead at halftime.

Jeff Davis opened the third quarter with a 57-yard touchdown run. A failed two-point try cut Enterprise’s lead to 38-18, but Johnson answered with a 6-yard touchdown run. The PAT extended the Wildcat lead to 45-18.

The Vols came right back with a 67-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion to cut Enterprise’s lead to 45-24. Zy’Air Boyd scored on a 1-yard run and the PAT extended the Wildcat lead to 52-24.

In the fourth quarter, Jeff Davis scored on a 6-yard run and a two-point conversion knocked down Enterprise’s lead to 52-32.

Enterprise safety Eric Winters intercepted a Jeff Davis pass and returned it for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter but a block-in-the-back penalty nullified the score. Still, Hayes scored on a 31-yard run anyway and a two-point conversion extended Enterprise’s lead to 60-32.

With under a minute left, Jeff Davis scored again on a 17-yard pass. A two-point conversion brought the final score to 60-40.

The Enterprise offense was led by Griffin with 172 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, while Johnson rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries. Johnson also caught a pass for 44 yards and another touchdown. Hayes completed 4-of-7 pass attempts for 83 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown on six carries. Zy’Air Boyd also rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown on six carries, while Wyatt Darlington added 43 yards on six carries.

Winters led the Enterprise defense with five tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. Fellow safety Keion Dunlap recorded two tackles, two pass breakups and an interception. Jackson Blount and Marzavious Reed recorded one sack each.

The win secures Enterprise a place in the playoffs and a win over Auburn next week would put the Wildcats, Auburn and Prattville in a three-way tie for the No. 2 seed that would bring a number of tiebreakers into play.