Enterprise falls to Auburn in playoffs

The Enterprise Wildcats (8-4) saw their 2021 season come to a close on Nov. 12, falling to the Auburn Tigers (10-2) by a score of 56-21 in the quarterfinals of the Class 7A State Football Playoffs.

Enterprise, playing Auburn for the second time in three weeks, struggled in all three phases of the game against the Tigers and a plethora of penalties aided to those issues as Auburn handed the Wildcats their most lopsided loss of the season.

Auburn started the game off with a four-play scoring drive to take a 7-0 lead early after running back Trey Nelms scored on a 5-yard touchdown run with 10:49 left in the first quarter. The Wildcats answered right back, however, as quarterback Quentin Hayes lofted a beautiful pass to running back Amare Griffin on third-and-long on the ensuing drive.

After Griffin picked up a big gain he managed to make a number of Tiger defenders miss and raced his way to a 79-yard touchdown to tie the score 7-7 with 8:44 left in the first quarter.

Auburn answered right back, though, capping off a 9-play scoring drive with a 2-yard touchdown run from Da’Vioun Williams with 5:13 left in the opening period to take a 14-7 lead.

After an Enterprise punt, the Tigers were also forced to punt, which was the first time this season Auburn punted against Enterprise. Enterprise was unable to move the ball, though, and the ensuing punt ricocheted of the back of an Enterprise player. Auburn’s Amarion Warren then scooped up the punt and raced 56 yards for a touchdown that put the Tigers ahead 21-7 with 8:52 left in the second quarter.

After another Enterprise punt, Auburn was back in scoring position until the Wildcats forced a turnover as Tysen Cole covered a Tiger fumble. The Wildcats responded with another big play as Mykel Johnson exploded for an 84-yard touchdown run with 4:34 left to cut the Auburn lead to 21-14.

Auburn marched right back down the field, however, and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run from Williams with 2:47 left in the half. A two-point conversion extended Auburn’s lead to 29-14.

After a quick Enterprise three-and-out, Auburn scored again on a 26-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Clyde Pittman to receiver Bakari Dailey with just 20 seconds remaining in the half. Auburn would take that 36-14 lead into halftime.

Things only got worse for the Wildcats in the second half as Auburn scored on a 42-yard run from Nelms and a 26-yard pass from Pittman in the third quarter to take a 49-14 lead into the final period. Aubrun also failed on a PAT attempt. Auburn scored again on a 38-yadr run from Williams in the fourth quarter as Auburn had scored 35 unanswered points after Enterprise’s second quarter touchdown.

Enterprise finally got back on the scoreboard with 4:53 left in the game as Hayes scored on a 6-yard run to make the final score 56-21.

As Auburn began to take control late in the second quarter things began to snowball against Enterprise as negative plays, a dominant Auburn offensive line and a plethora of penalties hampered the Wildcats. In the second half alone – most in the third quarter – Enterprise was penalized 10 times and officials began to lose control of the game with a number of personal fouls on both teams being thrown.

In the end, Auburn was penalized 14 times for a loss of 88 yards, while Enterprise was hit with 16 penalties for a loss of 142 yards.

The typically efficient Enterprise offense was held to 312 yards in the loss – with just 232 yards on the ground – while Auburn rolled up 417 yards of offense.

Johnson led the Enterprise offense with 113 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, while Hayes rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and completed 2-of-6 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. Tysen Cole led the Enterprise defense with six tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery.

For Auburn, Williams rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns, while Nelms rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Pittman completed 4-of-6 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Dailey caught three passes for 84 yards and a score.