Tornadoes pummel Shades Mountain Christian

REFORM, Ala., - Sometimes football games are over long before the final horn sounds.

Seventh-ranked Pickens County scored 34 points in the first quarter Friday night to roll over Shades Mountain Christian 48-7.

The Tornadoes (2-0) ran only 22 offensive plays in the first half to amass their point total. Pickens County finished the evening with 353 yards on offense with 261 yards coming on the ground.

"We worked hard this week and I thought the kids showed good intensity," said Pickens County head coach Scott Marchant. "We executed fairly well given the circumstances. I have a lot of respect for Shades Mountain Christian and how hard they fought. They are an undermanned team and have been through a lot this year. I think they are a courageous football team. They don't have a lot of guys but I think a lot of them."

Marchant unloaded the bench against the Eagles with nine different players getting carries out of the backfield. Backup quarterback Devonte Simon had the most success rushing 10 times for 115 yards including a 94-yard touchdown scamper on the final play of the first half.

Pickens County quarterback Deion Curry had a quick night playing only seven offensive snaps but finished 4-of-4 passing for 84 yards and two touchdowns.

"We're blessed here at Pickens County with really four fine quarterbacks," Marchant said. "I feel like we can win and do what we want to do with all four of them. We've got a great senior quarterback right now (Curry) and a junior (Simon) who's going to be a great quarterback. (Simon) starts at cornerback for us and is a great athlete and a good kid. We're proud that he was able to have success tonight."

De'Marko Hall was the leading receiver for the Tornadoes with a pair of catches for 44 yards and a score.

The night began with Shades Mountain fumbling two of their first three plays of the contest. The second fumble was recovered by the Tornadoes Travis Bailey at the 26-yard line.

Pickens County needed only one play to score from there as Curry tossed a strike to LaJuan Doss.

The Tornado defense again forced a turnover on the next possession as Warren Betts picked off Shades Mountain quarterback David Reeves and returned it 25-yards up the left sideline for the score.

On the ensuing possession the Eagles decided to punt on third down but the 16-yard punt proved ineffective as Pickens County added another touchdown after taking over at midfield. James Adams' 4-yard dive gave the Tornadoes a 20-0 lead.

Curry's game ended with three minutes remaining in the first quarter after he tossed a 33-yard touchdown pass to Hall on another one-play drive.

The final score of the first quarter came on another Shades Mountain fumble which was recovered by the Tornadoes and tossed back so Bailey could score from 2-yards out to go up 34-0.

Pickens County added another touchdown on the second play of the second quarter when Keleo Cole took a reverse to the right 24-yards for the score.

The Tornadoes capped their scoring on the final offensive play of the first half when Simon broke loose on a 94-yard jaunt to go up 48-0.

Shades Mountain managed their only score of the evening on their first possession of the third quarter when Reeves scored from 16-yards out.

The Eagles (0-2) were limited to negative-25 yards rushing and just 33 yards of offense on the night while committing three turnovers.

Kyle Nation led Shades Mountain with seven carries for 15 yards while Reeves completed 6-of-14 passing for 42 yards and an interception.

Nick Holt was the leading Eagles receiver with three catches for 41 yards.

Pickens County will hit the road for the first time next week traveling to Keith while Shades Mountain looks to bounce back against Autaugaville.

Shades Mountain Christian - 0 0 7 0 - 7

Pickens County - 34 14 0 0 - 48

First Quarter

PCHS - Deion Curry 14-yard pass to LaJuan Doss (Doss kick)

PCHS - Warren Betts 25-yard interception return (kick failed)

PCHS - James Adams 4-yard run (Doss kick)

PCHS - Curry 33-yard pass to Demarco Hall (Doss kick)

PCHS - Travis Bailey 2-yard fumble return (Doss kick)

Second Quarter

PCHS - Keleo Cole 24-yard run (Doss kick)

PCHS - Devonte Simon 94-yard run (Doss kick)

Third Quarter

SMC - David Reeves 16-yard run (Nick Holt kick)

Team Stats

SMC PCHS

First Downs: 9 9

Rushes: 22- (-25) 32-261

Passing: 58 92

Comp-Att-Int: 8-21-1 5-5-0

Return yards: 172 73

Fumbles-Lost: 5-2 4-1

Penalties: 2-10 10-90

Individual Statistics:

Rushing: Shades Mountain - Kyle Nation 7-15, David Reeves 10-6, Grant Gilmore 1-4, Jack Spink 2-(-11), Team 2-(-39); Pickens County - Devonte Simon 10-115, K.J. Nevith 6-44, Keleo Cole 1-24, James Adams 3-23, Landon Hill 3-15, LaGlendale Hughes 1-14, Stephon McCoy 5-13, Glenn Tunnell 2-9, Demarco Hall 1-4.

Passing: Shades Mountain - David Reeves 6-17-42-1, Kyle Nation 2-4-16-0; Pickens County - Deion Curry 4-4-84-0, Devonte Simon 1-1-8-0

Receiving: Shades Mountain - Nick Holt 3-41, Grant Gilmour 1-19, Patrick Williamson 1-0, Bradley Bramblett 4-(-2); Pickens County - Demarco Hall 2-44, LaJuan Doss 1-26, LaGlendale Hughes 1-14, Glenn Tunnell 1-8