Enterprise falls to Prattville in homecoming heartbreaker

The Enterprise Wildcats (4-2, 1-2) trailed for a total of just one minute of game time on Oct. 2, against the Prattville Lions (5-2, 3-1), but that was just enough for the Lions to hold on to a 35-28 win in a big Class 7A, Region 2 matchup on Enterprise’s homecoming night.

As Enterprise held on to a 28-21 lead with just over 5:00 remaining in the game, the Wildcats turned the ball over for the first time coughing up a fumble on the Prattville 40-yard line. Prattville’s Malik Stargill scooped up the ball and returned it all the way to the Enterprise 22-yard line.

Prattville running back Keondre Powell tied the score 28-28 on a 4-yard touchdown run with 3:34 remaining.

The Wildcats were then stuffed on third-and-short on the next drive and a short 16-yard punt gave Prattville the ball back on the Enterprise 43-yard line. On second-and-seven, the Wildcat defense seemingly managed to sack Prattville quarterback EJ Ousley near midfield, but Ousley managed to flip the ball away at the last second in a bit of a controversial moment. The back judge pulled out a flag to throw what looked like to be an intentional grounding penalty but waved it off instead.

Ousley found receiver Al’terious Bates for a 40-yard touchdown on the next play and gave Prattville its first lead of the game 35-28 with 1:00 remaining.

On Enterprise’s first play of the next drive, the Lions were able to intercept a pass and snuff out any Wildcat hopes of tying the game.

“We gave them the game. Period,” Enterprise coach Rick Darlington said. “We did a better job of stopping (them) on crucial downs in the first half and didn’t get it done in the second half.

“Then, we didn’t convert on third downs (on offense) in the second half and didn’t move the ball real well. We did once, got a touchdown, but then we’re trying to drive and eat clock and had a fumble, which was real big; that hurt. We also had a short punt. A lot of things went wrong in the second half. The best way to win a game is not to lose it and we managed to lose it.”

It was a tale of two halves as Enterprise utterly dominated Prattville in the first half, outgaining the Lions 260 yards to 90. Enterprise converted 5-of-7 third downs on offense in the first half and held Prattville to 1-of-4 on third downs in the first half.

In the second half, however, Enterprise converted just 1-of-6 third downs and Prattville converted 6-of-8 third downs. Prattville also outgained Enterprise 226 yards to 113 yards in the second half.

The Wildcat defense did a better job of stopping the run against Prattville, holding the Lions to 76 yards on 20 rushing attempts but gave up a number of big plays in the passing game. The Lions completed five passes of more than 30 yards and three pass plays over 40 yards.

The Wildcats opened up the game with a punishing 14-play, 80-yard drive that Josh McCray capped off with a 9-yard touchdown run to give Enterprise a 7-0 lead with 3:58 left in the first quarter.

Prattville answered, however, when Ousley found Jadarrin Powell on a 34-yard score on a pop pass with 1:06 left in the opening period.

Enterprise then marched on another 14-play, 80-yard drive capped off this time by Mykel Johnson’s 6-yard touchdown run with 6:13 left in the second quarter to give Enterprise a 14-7 lead.

After forcing a Prattville three-and-out, Enterprise scored quick this time. Enterprise quarterback Quentin Hayes found receiver Jared Smith streaking down the middle of the field for a 65-yard touchdown pass with 5:12 left in the half to extend the lead to 21-7 over the Lions.

After another Prattville three-and-out, Enterprise drove inside the Prattville 30-yard line before stalling out. The Wildcats looked to attempt a long field goal attempt with less than 30 seconds remaining in the half, but Prattville jumped offsides giving Enterprise a fourth-and-short. The Lions managed to stuff Enterprise’s fourth down attempt, however.

Prattville went deep with less than 10 seconds remaining but Enterprise cornerback Jalen Cunningham took the ball away from a Lion receiver for an interception to send the Wildcats into halftime with the 21-7 lead.

Prattville opened the second half with a scoring drive that Keondre Powell finished off with a 3-yard touchdown run to cut the Enterprise lead to 21-14 with 10:01 remaining in the third quarter.

Enterprise answered with a 10-play scoring drive as Hayes cashed in a 9-yard touchdown run with 4:21 left in the third quarter to extend the Wildcat lead to 28-14.

Prattville answered right back with a 23-yard touchdown run from Jadarrin Powell with 2:16 left in the third quarter. Enterprise’s lead was cut to 28-21 heading into the final period of play. Enterprise and Prattville exchanged punts in the fourth quarter before the Lions took over.

Enterprise rolled up 376 yards of offense against Prattville, while the Lions totaled 318 yards.

Johnson led the Wildcats with 115 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, while McCray rushed for 81 yards and a score on 10 carries. Hayes completed 3-of-5 pass attempts for 75 yards, one touchdown and an interception to go along with 79 yards and a touchdown on 18 rushing attempts. Smith had one catch for 65 yards and a score.

Cunningham had one tackle and an interception on defense. Safety Jaylon Webster had 10 tackles and a pass breakup. Linebacker LZ Leonard recorded five tackles, a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries, while linebacker Jackson Blount totaled four tackles, one tackle-for-loss and two quarterback hurries. 

Keondre Powell led the Lion running game with 67 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, while Ousley completed 12-of-23 pass attempts for 236 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Jadarrin Powell caught seven passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Bates three passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Enterprise will try to keep its playing hopes alive next week against Smiths Station at home.