Friday the St. Clair Saints will be facing their first Region 6 opponent in Ashville.

Head coach Charlie Boren said that he still stands firm on his commitment to get his team into the playoffs and Ashville is the first battle in getting there.

Last week the Saints finally got a win over Moody and Boren said that springboard should help his team get psyched for playing the Bulldogs.

“We’re trying to improve a little bit on what we did and didn’t do last week,” Boren said. “We’re going into region play and although everybody here likes to beat Moody because it’s a big rivalry for us, we’re concentrating on region play. We’re getting ready to play an athletic Ashville team and we have got to get a good start on it. We’re still trying to nail down the playoff spots. Ashville has new coaches and we’re waiting to see how they do in their spots.”

Last week

On a rainy night in Odenville, the St. Clair County Saints won their second straight against their rival the Moody Blue Devils 34 – 7 to open the season.

“I think we found out something about ourselves,” Boren said after the Moody game. “We got involved in a pretty tough game in the first half and made a lot of mistakes. They were in the football game and taking it to us. But I think we found out something about ourselves in the second half with the way we fought. I think good things are ahead for us ahead if we can keep it that way.”

His words to his players at halftime, when the teams were tied 7-7 were simple: just relax.

“We felt like we would be in control of the football game if we went out and played our game,” Boren said. “We thought we got a little bit rattled when we fumbled the ball late in the half. I think our biggest thing is just to play our game. That’s what we did and that’s what we’re proud of. Anytime we beat Moody—because that’s a huge rivalry—when we’re outweighed and outmanned, well, I’m just real proud of our guys.”

A storm system plowed through Odenville before the game and the rain fell throughout the first half. The rain seemed to slow down the passing game some, but Moody’s running back Heath McGuff and the Saints’ Sequoah Humes felt right at home with the running game leading the way for both teams.

The Saints and Devils each had to punt on their first possessions. The Saints got things going in their second possession. A four-yard run by Humes started the drive off. Two plays later Jervontez Goldsby found Ian Kennedy open for a nine-yard gain. Goldsby struck again, this time for a 34-yard gain. That plus a 15-yard personal foul on the Blue Devils and the Saints found themselves at the Moody 27 yard line.

Humes finished the Saints charge with a three yard plunge into the endzone for the Saints first touchdown of the season. Logan Hudson’s extra point was good and with 1:28 left in the first quarter, the Saints took a 7-0 lead.

Moody got another shot for the endzone when they recovered a Saint fumble at the 21 yard line. James Gaddis started the drive with an 11-yard gain. Mcguff followed with a six-yard gain. The drive came down to fourth and goal at the St. Clair one yard line.

Moody quarterback Josh Owen powered his way into the enzone for the touchdown. Blake Spiker’s extra point was good and the game was tied at seven going into halftime.

Moody got the football to start the second half and tried to seize control of the game. McGuff started the drive with an eight yard run. The Devils slowly drove to the St. Clair 31 yard line, and faced kicking a 48-yard field goal.

The Blue Devils faked the kick, but the pass attempt was broken up by the Saints. St. Clair took over from their own 31-yard line.

Humes was huge during the drive with runs of five, 19 and 11 yards putting the Saints at the Moody 28 yard line.

The Saints then fumble the football on the first play on the 20-yard line. Goldsby scooped up the fumble and with a wall of blockers in front of him raced 30 yards to the endzone for the touchdown. With the extra point St. Clair jumped back into the lead 14-7 to end the third quarter.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Saints. After stopping the Blue Devils three and out to start the fourth, the Saints found themselves pinned deep in their own territory at the 11.

Under pressure, Goldsby escaped the rush and launched a 50 yard completion to Damian Lee to put the Saints in Moody territory.

Later in the drive senior Chris Rosenaur scored from six yards out. With the extra point the Saints were two touchdowns ahead 21-7.

The next score by St. Clair was from the air. Goldsby dropped back in the pocket and threw a pass to Dee Franklin in stride for a 29 yard touchdown. The extra point failed, but the Saints where now ahead 27-7.

Daniel Fortner finished off a three touchdown fourth quarter for the Saints with a 40 yard interception of a Josh Owen pass for a touchdown. With the extra point the Saints marched on to a 34 – 7 win over the Blue Devils.

Mcguff was the top rusher for the Blue Devils with 65 of their 119 rushing yards.

The duo of Goldsby and Humes led the Saints. Humes had 106 yards rushing and one touchdown. Goldsby was 6 of 13 passing for 65 yards and a touchdown.

After the game, Goldsby and Humes gave honor to God for their performances.

“We were very mentally prepared for this game,” said Gloldsby.

“Coach Boren emphasized all summer about us juniors being leaders this year, and that’s what I tried to do tonight,” added Humes.

The Saints offense racked up 295 yards, 230 of that was on the ground. The Blue Devils managed 170 yards with Mcguff accounting for over half of the Blue Devil offense.

Both the Saints and the Blue Devils enter regional play tomorrow night on the road. The Blue Devils will travel to Talladega while the Saints make the short trip up highway 411 to battle with Ashville.