‘The New Standard’

Gadsden, AL – Coosa Christian holds Fyffe’s offense scoreless, sees no particular statement in 29-2 victory on a rainy night at home.

Area scoreboard

FRIDAY, Sept. 27
Alexandria 36, Sardis 14, FINAL
Pleasant Grove 30, Anniston 0, FINAL
Central-Clay 35, Scottsboro 21, FINAL
Cherokee County 20, Shades Valley 6, FINAL
Wellborn 41, Cleburne County 10, FINAL
Coosa Christian 29, Fyffe 2, FINAL
Ohatchee 54, Donoho 13, FINAL
Hokes Bluff 35, Glencoe 0, FINAL
Handley 31, Lanett 12, FINAL
Corner 35, Jacksonville 28, FINAL
Ezekial (Montgomery) 80, Jacksonville Christian 58, FINAL
Northside 54, Lincoln 0, FINAL
Westbrook Christian 52, Munford 21, FINAL
Oxford 35, Helena 10, FINAL
Piedmont 58, B.B. Comer 16, FINAL
Pleasant Valley 8, Woodland 6, FINAL
Randolph County 41, Ranburne 0, FINAL
Saks 42, Central-Coosa 0, FINAL
Etowah 41, Southside 34, 2OT, FINAL
Spring Garden 54, Cedar Bluff 0, FINAL
Talladega 35, Ashville 28, FINAL
Glenwood at Wadley, Cancelled
Winterboro 27, Weaver 13, FINAL
White Plains 28, Horseshoe Bend 27, FINAL

By Joe Medley

Coosa Christian, a Class 2A football program with Class 1A enrollment, made a statement in beating Class 6A Pell City earlier this season.

So, what was the statement in beating established state power Fyffe 29-2 on Friday at home? Coosa Christian coach Mark O’Bryant seemed genuinely stumped by the question.

Perhaps the answer came in another came after another question.

“I’m just proud of the whole team,” he said. “We fought and played hard and deserved to win. We were the better team.”

Coosa Christian (5-1), seeking its first state title after falling to Leroy in last year’s Class 1A final, moved up this year to Class 2A on the AHSAA’s competitive balance rule for private schools. The Conquerors were ranked fifth in 2A in this week’s Alabama Sports Writers Association poll.

They didn’t just beat Fyffe (3-2), ranked third in Clas 3A and a program that’s won seven state titles under 28th-year head coach Paul Benefield, six in 2A and one in 3A. Coosa Christian shutout Fyffe’s signature “Ugly Eagle” offense, becoming the first team since Clay County in 2008 quarterfinals to hold the Red Devils without a touchdown.

O’Bryant singled out Coosa Christian defensive coordinator Teddy Whitmire.

“It mattered for Teddy,” O’Bryant said. “Our kids wanted to play for him because he’s a Fyffe guy. I’m just really proud for him.”

Fyffe’s points came on Coosa Christian’s punt-snap mishap at 7:06 of the first quarter, as rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene poured on Phillip Ellen Stadium.

“Wet night, can’t block nobody and can’t snap it,” Benefield said. “That about sums it up.”

Coosa Christian took the lead for good on J.D. Justus’ 17-yard touchdown pass to Kylen Johnson at 3:43 of the second quarter, grew the lead to 14-2 on D.J. Mackey’s 20-yard fumble return with 33 seconds left in the first half, then added its own safety on a snap mishap and kick out of the end zone at 4:47 of the fourth.

Add Jalan Terry with a 32-yard touchdown run after a failed onsides kick and Kanon Wilson’s 3-yarder, and this game felt nothing like an up-and-coming program scoring a name-building upset.

The Conquerors beat the Red Devils at their own game.

“I think we out physicaled them,” O”Bryant said. “I think the will to win was much greater. They didn’t move the ball on us for sure.

“There’s a lot behind the scenes that people don’t know about, and it just really mattered to our kids.”

As for a statement compared to the one made in a 17-7 victory at Pell City on Aug. 30, well?

“I just want to say both of them were different in their own right, and both of them are special,” O’Bryant said.

Justus said Coosa Christian came ready to match Fyffe’s reputation.

“We knew they were one of the most physical teams in Alabama, and we knew we weren’t going to quit,” he said. “We were going to let them quit, because we just don’t do that.”

Wilson said the Conquerors could see it on film.

“We knew it we came out here and played our brand of ball, there’s nobody in the state that can beat us, for sure,” he said. “Definitely in 2A.

“I’d say we’re definitely the new standard in lower-A ball, 1 through 3A. We’re what everybody looks up to and wants to be right now.”

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