Ben’s Ford goes for 6-0 regular season home record tomorrow
Published 12:36 pm Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Ben’s Ford Christian School plays its final home game tomorrow night as the Eagles host Central Private in a District 6AA matchup.
Tonight’s game is important, as Ben’s Ford (5-3, 1-1) is going after a playoff berth.
“You want to come in the top 16 in power points to get in the playoffs,” Eagles coach Cole Holden said. “Right now, we’re sitting at number 10. A win would almost guarantee us a spot.”
Ben’s Ford, which is 5-0 at home, is coming off of a 25-20 victory over Bowling Green.
Last week, Ben’s Ford’s Aaron Taylor broke the 1,000-yard mark this season with a 148-yard performance. The senior running back currently has 1,036 yards, which is just 15 off of last season. Taylor has also scored 12 touchdowns.
Daniel Pittman turned in a solid performance, throwing for 173 yards and two touchdowns.
His scoring passes went to Josh Crain and Josh Moss. C.J. McClelland also scored a touchdown by recovering a Destin Pittman fumble in the end zone.
Destin Pittman also had a field goal.
Defensively, Holden said linebackers Cole Williams and Jordan Thomas, along with end Tyler Milner, have been playing good football.
They’ll come up and fill the gap on the run,” Holden said. “They’re one of the reasons why we’ve had so much success on defense.”
The Eagles blanked Central Private (2-6, 0-2) last year, 21-0, but Holden said Central Private is a much-improved team.
The new coach over there is doing a good job with them,” Holden said. “They’re going to try to run to the football and they’ll fly to the football on defense.”
Central Private coach Joey Sanchez said the club has improved week-to-week.
“It’s just been an uphill climb with our schedule, but it’s been a good challenge,” Sanchez said. “The kids have continually improved.”
Two teams in District 6AA, Centreville (8-0) and Silliman Institute (6-2), are ranked in the top three by Southern Sports & Travel. Centreville is No. 1 while Silliman is third. Also, Adams Country Christian School (7-1) is second in AA.
Those three teams have accounted for three of Central Private’s losses.
Central Private runs a pro-style offense with Trenton Guay at quarterback.
Guay enters with 410 passing yards on 25-of-59 (42.3) completion percentage with five touchdowns and six interceptions.
He’s also run for 219 yards on 54 carries (4.6 yards per attempt) and four scores.
The running backs are Johnny Duncan and Austin Slater.
Duncan has 378 rushing yards on 134 carries (2.8) and four touchdowns, while Slater has gone for 138 yards on 38 attempts (3.6).
“Johnny’s about 6-foot, 210,” Sanchez said.
“He’s a punishing back. He’s not going to run away from anybody. He’s going to get 4-or-5 yards at a time and hopefully keep things moving forward. Austin is a speed guy. If he gets a crease, he can go.”
The leading receiver is Cole Averette.
Landon Bryson and Kade Sanchez are also wide outs for the team.
Averette has 12 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns, and Bryson begins play with 11 receptions for 183 yards and two scores.
Defensively, Central Private bases out of the 4-4.
Defensive end Landon Bryson, tackle Ronnie Watkins and free safety Averette are the team’s top defensive players.
Ben’s Ford caps off the regular season on the road Oct. 24 against Silliman Institute.