The Madison County Record

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Sparkman loses out to Huntsville

Published 11:13pm Thursday, October 6, 2011

BY JIM SANDOVAL / SPECIAL TO THE RECORD

The Huntsville High Panthers kept their playoff hopes alive with a convincing 49-17 win on the road over Sparkman.

Returning from injury running back Azaria Green ran for four touchdowns to lead the Panthers.

After recovering a Sparkman fumble, Huntsville opened the scoring early on quarterback Will Nunn’s 10-yard keeper after a short drive.  Anthony Sanchez’ interception set up the second Panther score, with Green scoring on a three-yard run.  The Senator’s Adam Lau then returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards.  On the next play, Brandon Massey broke into the open and out raced the defense for a 27-yard scoring run to cut the lead to 14-7.

The Senator’s big defensive lineman, Nolan Brown, scooped up a fumble and rumbled 50 yards to set up a 34-yard field goal by Senator kicker Miller Matzek, cutting the lead to 14-10.

Huntsville quickly retaliated, going on a six play, 77-yard scoring drive with Green punching it in with a 10 -yard run.  Sparkman was able to put one more touchdown on the board before the end of the first half.  On the drive Brandon Massey broke a 39-yard run and Grant Banks tossed a 16-yard scoring pass to Tyler Caldwell to close Huntsville’s lead at halftime to 21-17.

Huntsville seemed a big sluggish in the first half but came out firing in the second.  Taking the kickoff they quickly marched down the field for a score, with Green finding the end zone from the two-yard line.  After forcing the Senators to punt the Panthers drove again for a score, with Green again scoring on a 12-yard run and a 35-17 lead.

Huntsville added scoring runs by Deonta Moore of 4 yards and Brewer Hicklen going 16 to complete the 49-17 victory.

The highlight for Sparkman had to be the kick returners, with Blake Chapman and Lau both breaking off long returns on the night.

With the win Huntsville’s record rises to 4-3 (3-2 in Region 8) while Sparkman falls to 0-7 (0-5).

Next week Huntsville will host Buckhorn in a game with playoff implications while Sparkman travels to face Bob Jones.