By By Adam Robinson
sports editor
On homecoming night in East Brewton, the Hillcrest Jaguars scored 20 unanswered points on the W.S. Neal Eagles to claim a 34-14 win.
The win was Hillcrest’s first of the season and a region win; they improved to 1-5 overall and to 1-3 in area play. W.S. Neal fell to 2-4 overall and 0-4 in class 4A Region 1.
W.S. Neal trailed 8-0 at the half and 14-0 with 9:08 left in the third quarter, but answered with two scores — a 21-yard pass reception from Ashton Elliott to Jeremy Alexander and a 43-yard run by Elliott-to tie the game at 14-14 with 3:23 left in the third quarter.
After tying the game, the Eagles fell to 20 fourth quarter points to lose by 20.
W.S. Neal started the game with an onside kick and drove to the 21-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.
After exchanging punts, W.S. Neal had their opportunities in the game to score first.
After driving to the 3-yard line after a Jaguar fumble recovered by Jason Bailey, the Eagles failed to score on four plays after getting to the 1-yard line.
The turnover on downs gave Hillcrest the ball and they would score seven plays later.
The Jaguars also returned an Eagle punt 79 yards to go up 14-0 with 9:08 left in the third quarter.
Jordan said his team had numerous missed opportunities in the game.
W.S. Neal had 164 total yards in the game with 89 on the ground and 75 in the air.
Hillcrest had 276 total yards in the game with 173 coming on the ground.
At halftime, Hillcrest had only 98 total yards of offense with 46 on the ground to W.S. Neal’s 39 total yards and 34 on the ground.
Elliott led W.S. Neal rushing with 37 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown. Alexander had 42 yards receiving on three catches.
Elliott has 8-for-28 passing for 75 yards and three interceptions.
W.S. Neal’s Jeremy Nicholson, who went out with an injury, had only seven carries with 19 yards.
W.S. Neal takes on UMS-Wright next week in Mobile. UMS beat Jackson 51-24 to improve to 4-2 overall and to 3-1 in the region.