Indians break open messy game

LEIGHTON - The frustration on the Colbert County sideline had reached critical mass.

With at least a share of first place in Class 3A, Region 8 on the line against Sheffield, the Indians offense had failed to capitalize on three trips into Bulldogs territory. Colbert County saw more yellow penalty flags - seven in the first half - than first downs.

Worse still, Jamorris Ricks had just fumbled away a punt - the Indians' second turnover - giving Sheffield a chance to take a first-quarter lead from the Colbert County 37-yard line.

And then, catharsis.

Ricks intercepted Sheffield quarterback Brady Gregory on the next play. Indians running back Jamarcus Goodloe broke free for an 80-yard touchdown run on first down, and ninth-ranked Colbert County (5-2, 4-1 Region 8) awoke to capture a 28-7 win Friday against Sheffield (5-2, 3-2).

"I knew I wasn't going to put my head down, like everybody seemed to be doing," Ricks said.

"Yeah," added Goodloe. "And I knew if I took it to the house, we would start rolling."

Goodloe rushed 12 times for a game-high 151 yards and two touchdowns, his second coming on a 1-yard plunge in the fourth quarter for Colbert County's final score.

Ricks added 112 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

Goodloe's long scoring run accounted for Colbert County's only score in an otherwise shaky first half for both teams, as the Indians took a 7-0 lead into the lockerroom. Both teams combined for 11 first-half penalties, and that's not counting the two that were declined.

"It was embarrassing," Colbert County coach Cody Gross said. "That's not how we play. I want to apologize to all of our fans for our performance in the first half."

Normally, Colbert County players have to run suicides at their next practice for each penalty the team commits. The Indians finished with nine penalties for 40 yards.

Ricks said he wasn't looking forward to running for penance Monday, but he may not have to.

"That didn't work," Gross said. "So we'll try something else this week."

The Colbert County faithful, however, will likely be forgiving if the Indians continue to perform the way they did during the second half. Colbert County's defense allowed one first down during the third quarter by virtue of defensive holding on third-and-10.

Meanwhile, the Indians capitalized on a Cameron Ricks blocked punt, and running back Demetric Steward scored on a 1-yard run.

On fourth-and-4 at the Sheffield 35, Ricks added another score, beating a defender to the corner on a speed sweep and toeing the sideline into the end zone to set up a 21-0 Indians lead.

"The bottom line is we didn't move the ball offensively, and they wore us down defensively," said Sheffield coach Chris Tucker, whose team dropped into a tie for third place with Madison Academy with two region games remaining. "We just have to take care of business the next two weeks. It's that simple."

Dominique Abernathy set up Sheffield's only score, taking a quick slant 56 yards to the Colbert County 1 late in the fourth quarter. Thomas Lindsey punched it in from a yard out on the next play. Gregory finished 4-for-18 for 66 yards.

Colbert County retained a share of first place in the region, along with West Morgan and Elkmont, each of which won Friday.

Goodloe and Ricks admitted they would become Madison Academy fans next week, when the Mustangs face West Morgan. West Morgan would hold an advantage in the event of a two-way tie with the Indians after handing Colbert County its only region loss.

But Gross said he hasn't begun to speculate about playoff brackets.

"Our assistants worry enough about it for me," he said. "We just have to take care of ourselves and get into the playoffs."

Bryan App can be reached at 740-5730 or bryan.app@timesdaily.com.