Published: August 26, 2008 01:08 pm         

Torches whip Warriors on late score

By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



Tabernacle withstood the pressure of a tie game late, and two seniors stepped up to make big plays as the Torches held off the Tuscaloosa Warriors, 42-34.

“I was real proud of our club for not quitting,” Tabernacle head coach Keith Dabbs said. “I thought we could have there a couple of times. We were running out of gas and Tuscaloosa had the momentum and was taking it to us.”

The Torches broke a 34-all tie, on senior Landon Ingle’s touchdown run with only 13 seconds left to play.

The game-winner was set up by a huge special teams play by senior Bradley White.

Tuscaloosa lined up in punt formation, when faced a fourth down on their own 33-yard line with just 1:51 left. The snap from center was fumbled and the Tuscaloosa punter tried to escape the Torches rush to his right, but Bradley White raced in and brought him down on the Warrior’s 27.

“Bradley made a big play right there,” Dabbs said. “He’s so quick and he’s athletic that he didn’t let the punter get around the outside on him.”

Four plays later, Ingle took a shotgun snap from center and raced around right end into the end zone for the fifth time in the game, giving the Torches a 40-34 advantage. Ingle then ran for the 2-point conversion to finish the game by scoring 32 of Tabernacle’s 42 points.

Ingle finished the night with 156 yards rushing on 26 carries.

Tabernacle had led at the half, 28-14, but Tuscaloosa rallied to tie the game, as Warrior quarterback Tyler Hayes threw for two second half scores and ran for another.

Hayes’ 30-yard scoring pass to Ben Patrick with 4:44 to play pulled Tuscaloosa even at 34.

Tabernacle took the ensuing kickoff and drove to the 37, but a lost fumble gave Tuscaloosa a chance with two minutes left.

However, two incomplete passes and a penalty left the Warriors facing fourth-and-15, setting up the punt attempt and White’s clutch play.

Early in the game, the Torches lost two fumbles on drives that looked to be headed to the end zone, leaving the door open for a Warrior comeback.

“We left some scores out there in the first half because of turnovers,” Dabbs said. “Otherwise, it would have been a bigger score Tuscaloosa was facing when the second half began.”

Matt Wade finished with 116 yards on 17 carries, giving the Torches two runners over the century mark.

White, who lines up at tight end and flanker on offense, had six catches for 122 yards, including a 59-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the first quarter, giving the Torches a 12-0 advantage.

“This is only the first game of the season, but any time you get a win like this, it’s a confidence builder for your team,” Dabbs said.