Atlanta Middle School football teams capture district titles
The Atlanta Middle School seventh and eighth grade football teams capped an incredible season at Rabbit Stadium last Thursday night, with two big wins to capture the District 7-3A crown, on a cold, breezy east Texas night.
Seventh Grade
First Quarter
Jamarion Austin breaks off a 64-yard run to make it 6-0.
Second Quarter
Markeylin Batton scores on a nice 41-yard run, breaking several tackles. Austin added the 2-point to make it 14-0. Later in the quarter, Austin would break a 68-yard touchdown run to bring it to 22-0 after an Easton Owens 2-point play. On the ensuing kickoff, Chris Hale would recover a muffed fumble by Hooks. The Rabbs would put together another good drive, and would cap it with a great throw and catch from Owens to Asher Wells, who ripped the ball from the defender. Kheaton Kinney added the 2-point play to make it 28-0 Rabbits at the half.
Third Quarter
B.J. Edwards scores on a nice 32-yard scamper to make it 34-0. Later in the quarter, fullback Ty Waldon would take the handoff and outrun the defense for a 73-yard jaunt, to make it 40-0.
Fourth Quarter
Hooks would put together a drive and score a late TD on a 5-yard run. The Rabbs would answer quickly on the ensuing kickoff, as Austin would continue his huge night with a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. This would make it 46-6 Rabbs. The seventh grade Rabbs finished the season with an 8-1 overall record and 6-0 district record.
Eighth Grade
First Quarter
Atlanta’s defense stuffed a good Hooks offense and forced a fumble, recovered by Carmello Henderson. Three plays later Dim Limbrick would split the Hornets’ defense for a 55-yard touchdown to make it 6-0 Rabbs.
Second Quarter
Atlanta forced a Hooks’ punt, but would throw an interception on the next play. Hooks would answer on a big pass play, then a nice run by Keyshawn Walls to tie the game at 6-apiece. The Rabbs would answer as Larandion Dowden made a nice run down into Hooks’ territory. On the next play Limbrick reverses field and takes it all the way for a 37-yard TD run. Elvis Smith added the two point to make it 14-6 Rabbs. The Rabbs’ defense would bend but not break on the next Hooks’ drive, stopping Hooks on fourth and goal as time expired.
Third Quarter
The Rabbs would start with good field position after a failed onside kick. On the first play from scrimmage, Cooper Swanson takes the jet sweep, slicing through the defense for a 51-yard touchdown. L.A. Andrews would add the 2-point on a jet sweep of his own to make it 22-6. Hooks would go backwards on their next drive, and the Rabbs would put the game away with a 65-yard run from Dowden which made the score 28-6 Rabbs.
Fourth Quarter
Hooks put together a nice drive and added a touchdown to make it 28-12. On the next Rabbs’ drive, Limbrick added a couple nice runs to put the Rabbs into the redzone. On the next play, Limbrick would toss the ball to Dowden who would win the race to the pylon for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 34-12 which ended up being the final score. The win moved the Rabbs to 6-2 overall and 5-0 in district play. The eighth grade Rabbs are back-to-back District 7-3A champions. “The future is very bright for the Atlanta football program. The kids worked really hard and stuck to our motto of TRUST which is teamwork, responsibility, unity, strength, and tempo, Head Coach Matt Johnson said. “They kept ‘swinging the hammer’ and it payed off. Great season. Go Rabbs.