CVA junior running back Bradley Carroll runs for yardage Friday. Brian Schoenhals
CVA got on the board first and early, with a 68-yard touchdown run from Miles Sharpe.
The Rebels failed to convert the extra point.
Cornerstone answered in the opening minute of the second quarter, with Adrian Young completing a 20-yard touchdown pass to BJ Smith.
The Chargers converted for two-points, bringing the score to 8-6.
The next quarter and a half turned into a defensive battle. Both teams’ defenses were forcing three-and-outs and both teams had unforced errors, like false starts and fumbles.
Not content being down at home, CVA took the lead back on a couple of short carries from Andrew Nelson. The Rebels made up for the missed point after with a two-point conversion, bringing the score to 14-8.
A 55-yard pass from Niko Teofilo to Tyler Hickman early in the fourth set up a 6-yard touchdown run by Bradley Carroll.
After several failed drives by both teams, the Rebels cemented their win with a fake field goal that earned them six more.
CVA would line up in victory formation with 51 seconds left.
Head coach Arlton Hudson said he couldn’t be prouder of his team.
“We’ve been working hard, and I knew we could do it,” Hudson said. “These boys are great athletes and they just needed to believe in themselves.”
CVA’s eighth-grade kicker, Zach Sharp, rarely had a kickoff that didn’t go for a touchback and had a 65-yard punt in the second quarter.
Hudson was pleased and impressed with his young kicker’s maturity.
“Sharp just kept kicking them out of the park,” Hudson said. “We had a phenomenal kicking game, great special teams all around. It was truly a team effort.”
During the battle of defenses, both of the Rebels’ linemen stood their positions and rarely gave away any ground.
Hudson wasn’t surprised by their performance.
“We’ve got some big guys out there,” Hudson said. “They did an excellent job of doing exactly what they’re supposed to do. They are just going to continue to improve.”
Looking ahead, CVA will take on Autauga Academy in a regional game on the road next week.
Hudson said his team will be making adjustments for the tough away game.
“It’s a totally different ball game and a totally different ball team,” Hudson said. “They’ve got one of the better athletes in the state, a guy that’s already committed to Alabama,” Hudson said. “I think if we can keep an eye on him and do our assignments right, we can win that one as well.”
