AMS sweeps Tatum, seventh grade team goes undefeated
In the first quarter, both teams came into the game undefeated with a district championship on the line. The Rabbs didn’t waste any time getting on the board.
TJ Rainey burst around the right edge on a 55-yard dash to the end zone to go up 6-0. Tatum was stuffed by a stingy Atlanta defense and forced to punt on the next drive.
Rainey extended the Rabbs’ lead quickly, this time on a 65-yard run. Jamario Crawford added the 2-point run and Atlanta was up 14-0. The two teams traded empty possessions the rest of the way, Tatum added a score late in the quarter to make it 14-6.
In the second quarter, Atlanta forced a Tatum fumble, recovered by Jaiden Richardson. The Rabbs were unable to capitalize, but once again the stingy Atlanta defense shut Tatum down. This would be the story for the rest of the half.
In the second half, it would be a back and forth defensive battle the rest of the way. Neither offense could establish their footing.
Cannon Hammonds, TJ Rainey, and Breckin Wells all had big tackles for a loss to put Tatum in a bind on multiple drives. Late in the game, after another big stop Atlanta got the ball back and took two knees to finish the game, and finish with an undefeated season (8-0).
“It was a tremendous year for the seventh grade Rabbs. They came to work every single day, and every single game,” Coach Matt Johnson said. “This group is going to be special if they continue down this path. The coaching staff is very proud of these young men and their dedication to the Rabbit program.”
8A - Atlanta 30 Tatum 22
In the first quarter, Atlanta’s defense immediately forced a three and out. The Rabbs come out rolling on offense as Dailens Collins caught a quick pass for eight yards on first down. A couple plays later, Kaigen Lloyd caught a ball in the flats and took it deep into Tatum territory.
TJ Hamilton finished the drive on a 13 yard run to make it 6-0. The Rabbs’ defense made another big stop, and on the next Atlanta drive, Liam McKinney got it going on a big 20-yard run.
In the second quarter, McKinney found Easton Patterson on a quick pass for a first down. Hamilton capped this drive off with another touchdown, this time from 28 yards away.
McKinney added the 2-point run and Atlanta was up 14-0. On the next Tatum drive, Lloyd recovered a bad snap to give the Rabbs’ offense the ball back. On fourth down, Hamilton took the ball around the left end for a big gain into Tatum territory. A couple plays later, McKinney finds Collins in the end zone, on a great catch.
Kam Williams added the 2-point run and the Rabbs were ahead 22-0. Tatum put together a drive and added a score to make it 20-6.
On the first play from scrimmage on the following drive, Lloyd exploded through the line and raced to the end zone from 56 yards out. Jaylen Finley added the 2-point run to bring the score to 30-6, at the half.
In a short second half, Tatum added a couple of late scores with a running clock. The final score was 30-22.
The Rabbits’ eighth grade A team finished the season 6-2. “To see the improvement of this group from seven to eighth grade is awesome. These young men never got their head down or quit even when times were tough,” Coach Matt Johnson remarked. “This group has been through a lot of things off the field this year. They stuck together all year, and lived by our motto of Championship Family. Very proud of this group.”