Aggie Stunner
By Ken Bonner
The Daily Sentinel
Published October 15, 2007
Surprised. Like a kid playing with a Jack-in-the-Box, that's what happened to the Scottsboro Wildcats Friday night in Albertville.
The home-standing underdog Aggies turned three Scottsboro turnovers into 21 quick points and never trailed on the way to a 35-14 homecoming upset of the Wildcats before an overflow crowd at Aggie Stadium.
Scottsboro fell to 5-2 overall, 4-1 in 5A Region 7. Albertville improved to 4-3 and 3-2.
“I'll take the blame,” Scottsboro head football coach Freddie Tidmore said. “When you get beat like that you've got the wrong people on the field or you ain't got ‘em ready to play.”
The Aggies jumped on top 21-0 behind junior quarterback Jared Fontaine, who threw five touchdown passes.
Fontaine found Madison Tharp from 30 yards out to cap a nine-play 63-yard drive on Albertville's second possession late in the first quarter. Troy Simmons kicked his first of five extra point attempts to make it 7-0.
The Aggies were back in business moments later at the Scottsboro 14 after DeUntae Johnson fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Wildcats drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Fontaine again found Tharp. This time it wasn't traditional as the ball ricocheted off of the intended receiver Beau Dalke and fell into the waiting hands of Tharp. The nine-yard play pushed it to 14-0 with 11:08 left in the first half.
Prior to Friday night the Aggies had lost nine of their last 10 homecoming games. Albertville coach Tommy Tharp had said earlier in the week he expected his team to be focused and "to give their very best effort," despite the distraction of the game being the last homecoming game ever in Aggie Stadium. The Aggies will christen a new $4 million facility next season.
"When our staff first arrived, unbelievably we had players, backed up by their parents, wanting to skip practice to got to work on floats," Tharp said. "That was a new one on me, and we had to hurt some feelings and dismiss some young men from the team for that reason."
After a Scottsboro punt Albertville put together their most impressive drive of the night going 59 yards in 11 plays with Fontaine hitting Dustin Duckett with a six-yard pass for the score. Simmons made it 21-0 with 1:43 left in the opening half.
Scottsboro answered in a hurry, driving 79 yards in five plays to cut the margin. Senior tailback got the touchdown on a 68-yard run after a crushing block from wide receiver Shingin Lee gave him the corner. Jay Benson kicked true to make it 21-7.
Albertville benefitted from another Scottsboro turnover to begin the second half when Duckett picked up a David Washington fumble and returned it 32 yards to the Scottsboro four on the kickoff. Fontaine found Duckett three plays later from 14 yards and Simmons kick made it 28-7.
"You can't miss blocks, miss tackles and fumble the football and expect to win," Tidmore said.
Tyrelle McCamey got Scottsboro back in it when he went 60 yards for the touchdown on the first play from scrimmage after the ensuing kickoff. Benson's kick cut it to 28-14 with 10:09 left in the third quarter.
The Aggies last touchdown, a nine-yard Fontaine to Tharp pass, came with 10:09 left after the third Scottsboro turnover at the Wildcat 10.
Scottsboro outgained the Aggies picking up 222 yards rushing on 27 carries. Quarterback Josh White was 0 of 4 through the air. Fontaine finished 7 of 9 through the air for 83 yards. Albertville picked up 128 on the ground on 45 attempts.
"We've got to win out (Region games with Lee and Fort Payne) if we want to win the region now," Tidmore said. "Both those games will be huge."
Albertville's win gave the Aggies the tie-breaker over Scottsboro in the chase for the playoffs and possible first-round home field advantage.
The Wildcats entertain Lee Friday night at Trammell Stadium. Kickoff for the homecoming contest is 7 P.m.
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