Mean Sting makes Bear rugs in Timpson
Alto dominates offensively and defensively to beat Timpson 67-0
ROBIN D. BEST

Kyle Denum breaks away for a touchdown. Alto's offense never faced a fourth down situation as they pummelled Timson 67-0 Friday. PHOTO: LAURIE GOULD

After a definitive 67-0 pummeling, the Alto Yellowjackets sent the Timpson Bears home Friday night to troubled dreams, where they were haunted with nightmares from Alto reoccurring in three colors: yellow, black and blur.

The Jackets remained a relentless blur throughout the game, streaking across the gridiron as lightening streaked across stormy skies just before the game.

Ironically, an initial hourand 25-minute lightening delay was the calm before the storm for the Bears, who hosted Alto. As soon as the Jackets thundered onto the field, Alto owned John Herbert Eakin Stadium in Timpson.

On the first play of the game from scrimmage, Timpson quarterback Jeremy Adams deposited the ball on the turf, where it was scooped up by Alto senior lineman Clayton Scott (No. 55), who dashed 17 yards for the defensive touchdown.

Fourteen seconds in, following a muffed PAT, Alto led 6-0.

ROBIN D. BEST

"It is hard to understand how hard it is on the kids to have a delay like that and then to have to come out and play," said Alto head football Coach Keith Gardner. "Our kids did a great job and maintained focus."

In a combination of alertness and speed, Scott's fumble recovery for a touchdown set the pace for the game from the very first play.

"We felt that our entire defensive unit did a great job," Coach Gardner said. "They were led by our linebackers Scott and (Lance) Low, (senior, No. 4)."

The duo of upperclassmen terrorized the Bear offense all night. Scott had seven tackles and a sack, while Low had four tackles and sent Bear Jeremy Adams (junior, No. 11) scrambling for safety all night. More night terrors visited Adams in the form of sacks by Alto defensive backs Michael Parker (senior, No. 32), Marcuse Gasaway (junior, No. 1) and even Alto quarterback Tarlandus Mitchell (senior, No. 2) turned defensive back. Other sacks, hurries, blocked passes and take-downs were recorded by the entire defensive unit all night.

It was the Bears' turn to put on a show.

Not to disappoint, Timpson put together a clever combination of rushing and pass plays to drive the length of the field, taking six minutes off of the first-quarter clock.

But as Timpson entered the red zone, the Yellowjacket defense stiffened, bent, but did not break.

With 5:21 left in the opening quarter, the Bears turned the ball over on downs.

Less than a minute later, Mitchell took the snap at the Alto 24-yard line and handed it off to Gasaway, who galloped 76 yards for the end zone. After a successful two-point conversion, the Jackets led, 14-zip.

"Great defense, great offense," said Timpson head football Coach Norman Cobb. "We had some guys out and we were definitely outmanned."

Five starting players were unable to play for Timpson and one running back was injured during the game.

"Even if we had had all of them in, I don't think it would have made much of a difference," Coach Cobb added. "Alto has a very talented, fast team and I wish them well."

As outstanding as the defense was, it was the offence that consistently stole the show.

After stifling another Timpson drive, Mitchell drove inside Bear territory. With 42 seconds left in the opening quarter, Alto running back Devon Patton (senior, No. 8) latched onto a handoff and dashed 34 yards to pay dirt. Following a quick PAT by Dere Mumphrey (senior, No. 62), Alto entered the second quarter up 21-0.

"Our entire backfield did a great job," Coach Gardner said. "Of course to get going, you have to have good blocking. Our offensive line did a great job of blocking so our backs were able to get some good gainers."

The Jacket D brought the next Bear drive to a halt.

Mitchell caught the deep punt at the Alto 5-yard line and zipped 95 yards for a touchdown, only to have it brought back to the Alto 10 on an illegal block.

A few gridiron-gobbling plays later, Mitchell found the end zone again on a quarterback keeper. No penalties this time and the Jackets were up 28 to nothing.

Before the end of the half, Mark Green (junior, No. 3) caught two touchdown passes of 60 and 10 yards from Mitchell and the halftime score was 40-0 Alto.

The second half was more punishment being offered up by Alto quarterback Javonte Jones (freshman, No. 15) with dazzling runs by and passes to Demarcus Griffin, (junior, No. 7), Mitchell, Kyle Denum (junior, No. 5) and a third touchdown by Green, the Yellow Jackets polished off Timpson 67-0 by the end of the game.

Alto's offense was clikcing, with the Mean Sting never having to face a fourth down. They either scored, or made a first down.

Even though it was a punishing onslaught, the Timpson Bears played hard the entire game.

Timpson coach weighs in on

Bears' romping

"I can't say enough about the kids from Timpson," Coach Gardner said. "They battled us for four hard quarters. They never stopped coming. They have an up and coming program and Coach Cobb is going to get them there."

Coach Cobb said he was very proud of the way his team faced the Yellowjackets.

"We accomplished something very good during this game," he said. "It wasn't a win, of course, but it was a positive attitude. Our kids kept their heads up and played all four quarters. I couldn't be more proud of them, considering what they were facing."

Game Stats

SCORING BY QUARTER
AHS 21 19 14 13 -- 67
THS 0 0 0 0 -- 0
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
AHS - Clayton Scott fumble return
11:46
AHS - Marcuse Gasaway 76 yd run
(Demarcus Griffin 2-point Conversion),
4:38
AHS - Devon Patton 34 yd run (Derek
Mumphrey kick), :42
Second Quarter
AHS - Mitchell 2 yd run (Mumphrey
kick), 3:30
AHS - Mark Green 60 yd catch (kick
blocked), 2:03
AHS - Green 10 yd catch (kick blocked),
1:25
Third Quarter
AHS - Griffin 49 yd run (kick failed),
9:44
AHS - Mitchell 25 yd interception (2-point
conversion), :4:08
Fourth Quarter
AHS - Kyle Denum 6 yd run (Mumphrey
Kick), 10:04
AHS - Green 39 yd run (kick failed),
3:04
AHS THS
First downs 18 7
Rushes/yds 26-378 34-106
Passing yds 94 87
C/A/I 3-8-0 5-13-1
Fumbles/lost 6-2 2-2
Penalties/yds 3-20 8-70

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Alto: Marcuse Gasaway 3-95, Demarcuse Griffin 2-67, Devon Patton 2- 60, Javonte Jones 4-42 Tarlandus Mitchell 5-41, Lance Low 3-23, Kyle Denham 3-28, Mark Green 3-16,Brandon Thancker 1-6. Timpson: Jeremy Adams 9-44, Michael Parker 8-38, Kevin McLawchlin 4-10. PASSING - Alto: Mitchell 3-8-0 94; Timpson: Adams 5-13-1 87. RECEIVING - Alto: Green 2-70, Gasaway 1-34; Timpson: Laderius Bryan 1-32, Chris Oliver 1-29, Nick Stricklin 1-17, McLawchhlin 1-5.

INTERCEPTIONS Alto: Mitchell 1 returned 25 yd for TD