By By Kerry Whipple Bean
and Randy Winton
the brewton standard
Wearing the jersey numbers of the 1969 state champion Tigers, T.R. Miller’s current players did their counterparts proud Friday night, making quick work of Calhoun in front of a home crowd that included members of the state title team.
The region win preserved Miller’s perfect season so far at 6-0 (4-0 in 3A Region 1), while Calhoun fell to 1-5.
T.R. Miller and Calhoun traded kickoff returns for touchdowns in the opening minutes of the game, but after those points were on the scoreboard T.R. Miller didn’t slow down en route to a 57-6 win.
Members of the 1969 team, in town for their 40th reunion, were recognized before the game, and their 2009 counterparts wore their jersey numbers during the first half of the game.
Anthony Herbert — wearing Greer Horton’s No. 20 — started the game with an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Calhoun answered with a 76-yard kickoff return for a touchdown of its own, but the ensuing kick for the extra point was not good.
From there, the points were all Miller’s, with the Tigers making scoring drives on five straight possessions in the first half, averaging 32 yards on three plays per drive. T.R. Miller was 2-for-2 on third down conversions in the first half.
Herbert had a 2-yard run for a touchdown on the second scoring drive, made in five plays and 66 yards.
The next touchdown came in just one play, on a Wil Riggs 27-yard pass to Derrick Riley, followed by a Jaren Jackson 5-yard touchdown run after two plays.
Herbert scored again on a 23-yard run, and Jamaal Spears made a 1-yard touchdown run to close out the first half.
Spears started the second half with a 1-yard touchdown run, and eighth-grader Eric Maye was the last on the scoreboard with a 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Riggs played his B team through much of the second half, although the game was over quickly, ending just before 9 p.m.
Members of T.R. Miller’s offense wore the numbers of the 1969 players during the first half, and some players continued to wear the jerseys in the second half.
Riggs — who was an eighth grader when Miller won the state title in 1969 — has helped organize a 40th reunion of the championship team, which began with a tailgate party and recognition on the field and continues today with a special program at the T.R. Miller auditorium. The event starts at 1 p.m. and is open to the public.
Looking ahead to next week, T.R. Miller will face an undefeated Luverne in a tough region matchup. Luverne beat Cottage Hill Christian 50-20 Friday night.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Friday at T.R. Miller.