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 en route to a 48-7 victory against Shades Mountain Christian.
The Tornadoes (2-0) ran only 22 offensive plays in the first half to amass their point total. Pickens County finished with 353 yards offense, including 261 rushing yards.
“We worked hard this week, and I thought the kids showed good intensity,” Pickens County head coach Scott Marchant said. “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 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 played only seven offensive snaps and was 4 of 4 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 (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 he was able to have success tonight.”
Demarco 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 its first three plays. Pickens County”s Travis Bailey recovered the second fumble at the 26-yard line. Pickens County needed only one play to score from there, as Curry tossed a strike to LaJuan Doss.
The defense forced a turnover on the next possession, as Warren Betts intercepted quarterback David Reeves and returned it 25 yards up the left sideline for the score.
On the ensuing possession, the Eagles punted 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 after another Shades Mountain fumble the Tornadoes recovered. Bailey scored from 2 yards to make it 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 make it 48-0.
Shades Mountain managed its only score on its first possession of the third quarter, when Reeves scored from 16 yards.
The Eagles (0-2) had -25 yards rushing, just 33 yards of offense, and committed three turnovers.
Kyle Nation led Shades Mountain with seven carries for 15 yards, while Reeves was 6 of 14 for 42 yards and an interception.
Nick Holt was the leading receiver with three catches for 41 yards.
Pickens County will hit the road for the first time next week when it travels to Keith, while Shades Mountain will look to bounce back against Autaugaville.
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