Jackets possess Red Devils' Homecoming
Alto beats Huntington 43-0
ROBIN BEST
Alto left the Red Devils red-faced Friday night, demolishing drives and optimism in a 43-0 victory over Huntington.

"We played some outstanding football," said Alto head football Coach Keith Gardner. "I was very pleased with how well the kids responded."

The first quarter gave Huntington short-lived optimism as both teams stalled each other's drives to begin the game.

But Red Devil hopes began to erode when Marcuse "Pee Wee" Gasaway ripped the turf 25 yards for the opening score with 6:31 left in the first quarter.

Alto kicker Derek Mumphrey nailed an extra point and the Jackets led 7-0.

"Our defense played extremely well," Coach Gardner said. "Our kids played extremely well all night."

The defensive wall put up by Alto proved impenetrable, as Huntington began each drive with high hopes, only to be disappointed with the outcomes.

Senior Linebacker Clayton Scott remained out with an injury. But the depth of the Jacket squad reinforced efforts as the game progressed.

"Rhett Gresham, who is a freshman, started at linebacker," Coach Gardner said. "Makio Houston came in and played also and did a great job for us."

Javante Jones (15) breaks open for a big gain during Alto's 43-0 win over Huntington Friday night. Jones, a freshman, is the back-up quarterback for Alto. PHOTO: LEANN JONES

A lightening delay stopped play for 30 minutes late in the first.

Huntington was hoping that the interruption would slow down the momentum building on the visitors side.

That would not be the case.

With just 54 seconds left in the first quarter, Alto quarterback Tarlandus Mitchell capped a drive with a 4-yard touchdown run.

Following a blocked, PAT, the Jackets led 13 to nothing going into the second period of play.

Less than a minute into the second quarter, Huntington QB John Litton dropped an errant pass into the waiting hands of Yellowjacket defensive back Kyle Denum at the Red Devil 47 yard line.

Alto drove the distance in under two minutes, with Gasaway scoring on a short run. A two-point conversion was successful and the Jackets were up 21-0 with 9:24 remaining in the opening half.

"We had over 500 yards in offense," Coach Gardner said. "Any time you can do that, things are going well for you.

"We had several kids touch the football and score," he added. "And two-point conversions were scored by Brandon Thacker and Mark Green."

The second quarter added more woes to the home bench, when Yellowjacket running back Demarcus Griffin latched onto a Mitchell pass and dashed 78 yards for a touchdown and Alto led 27-0.

"Demarcus Griffin had a tremendous catch from Mitchell and it wound up being a 78 yard touchdown run, so I felt he did extremely well," Coach Gardner said. "That one kind of stood out to me.

"Kevin Blakemore had a couple of catches, so I was very pleased with our offense."

Adding insult to injury, Gasaway added another score with just four seconds left in the first half.

The two point conversion was good and Alto enjoyed a 35-0 lead going into halftime.

"We did very well on offense," Coach Gardner said. "Pee Wee (Gasaway) and Tarlandus (Mitchell) had a good night.

"Of course, all that starts with a good offensive line creating some good holes to run through," he added.

The nail in the Red Devil coffin came with 10:10 remaining in the third quarter, when Griffin dashed 22 yards into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night. A two point conversion was successful and the Jackets led 43-0, a score that would remain on the scoreboard until it was turned off for the night.

The Yellowjackets will begin district play this Friday with the second of three away games in a row. Alto will travel to Oakwood, before traveling to Grapeland next week, returning for a home game against Cayuga Oct. 26.

"We have Oakwood next and we are certainly not taking them lightly - we don't take anyone lightly," Coach Gardner said. "We have been watching them on film."

Asked if the Jackets were ready to begin district play, Gardner replied: "We are ready to go. We're standing just about where we need to be."