Rain didn't damper the homecoming festivities Friday in Atmore, but the Flomaton Hurricanes put a damper on the homecoming celebration by defeating the Escambia County High School Blue Devils 28-14.
Unofficial records show Friday night's win was the first for Flomaton over Atmore and the first time the two teams played a regular season game since 1966. The non-region game has no impact on post season play, but a game that could turn into a rivalry for two teams separated by only 15 miles.
Both teams will be back in region play this Friday night as ECHS travels to Clarke County and Flomaton hosts Bayside Academy. Both kickoffs are set for 7 p.m.
“I was a big game for us as far as the county goes,” said Flomaton head coach Doug Vickery. “It's the first time we've ever beat them.”
Vickery noted he was only 3 years old when the Hurricanes and Blue Devils last played a regular season game.
Flomaton opened the game with a squib kick that was recovered by the Hurricanes, giving Flomaton excellent field position.
Quarterback Daquan Johnson took advantage of the field position and later scored on a 38-yard run. Da'Shun Odom added the PAT and Flomaton had the early lead 7-0 with 9:56 left in the first quarter.
Atmore was able to cover the next squib kick and began its first drive of the night from its own 44-yard line.
The Blue Devils moved the Flomaton 32-yard line and were facing a fourth and 6 before an illegal procedure made it fourth and 11 from the 37. Flomaton stopped the fourth down play and took over at its own 28 with 8:02 left in the first quarter.
Atmore's Malik Brown intercepted a pass and the Blue Devils were back in business at their own 49-yard line.
Atmore moved for a first down at the Flomaton 16 and faced a fourth down at the 13. The fourth down pass fell incomplete and again the Flomaton defense held.
Flomaton took over at its own 13 and was able to move to the. On third and 11 the snap went past the quarterback and Flomaton recovered the ball at its own 5-yard line and was forced to punt.
Following Johnson's punt, Atmore began at its own 48-yard line with 2:21 left in the first quarter.
The Blue Devils had moved to the Flomaton 19-yard line as the first quarter came to a close with Flomaton leading 7-0.
Atmore cracked the scoreboard on a 5-yard run with 11:22 left in the half. A two-point try failed and Flomaton's lead had been cut to 7-6.
Odom returned the kickoff to the Flomaton 40-yard line and Johnson went right up the middle to pick up a first down at the Atmore 20-yard line.
The Hurricanes faced a fourth and 1 at the 16 and Johnson converted for a first down at the 8.
Another snap past the quarterback put the Hurricanes in a second and goal situation from the 21. A pass interference call moved it to a second and goal from the 11. On third and goal from the 3, Johnson found the end zone. Johnson then carried the two-point try into the end zone to give Flomaton a 15-6 lead with 6:32 left in the first half.
Flomaton recovered another a squib kick and took over at its own 34. A delay of game penalty backed the Hurricanes up and they were eventually forced to punt.
Javontaye Wright intercepted an Atmore pass and the Hurricanes had one last shot to score with the ball at the Atmore 27-yard line with 1:02 left in the half.
Johnson tossed a lateral to Odom, who then threw to a wide open Devonta Bradley in the end zone, but Bradley couldn't hold on and the ball fell incomplete to end the half with Flomaton leading 15-6.
Flomaton's Travon Brown received a short second-half kickoff which gave Flomaton the ball at its own 39, but the Canes were forced to punt.
Atmore took over at its own 23 and began to drive.
Katyree Russell scored an apparent touchdown from 11-yards out, but a holding penalty took the touchdown off the board and put Atmore in a second down situation from the 16.
Russell moved the ball to the 3 and Atmore was backed up and facing a fourth and goal from the 6 when Jordaun Patterson hit JaBryce Hooks for the touchdown. Malik Brown carried the two-point try into the end zone and with 2:55 left in the third quarter, Flomaton's lead was cut to 15-14.
Following the kickoff, Flomaton began at its own 30 and quickly picked up a first down at the Atmore 44-yard line.
On third and 10 from that point, Johnson hit Odom for a first down at the 34 as the third quarter came to a close with Flomaton still clinging to a 15-14 lead.
Another snap past the quarterback put Flomaton in a hole with as second and 26 from its own 48-yard line.
On third and 26, Johnson hit Odom on a pass play to the 30, setting Flomaton up with a fourth and 6 situation at the 30.
Johnson hit Odom again for a first down at the 22. Johnson plowed his way to the 4 and an offsides on Atmore had Flomaton knocking at the door with a first and goal from the 2. Johnson carried it in from there. A two-point pass attempt fell incomplete, but with 8:59 left in the game, Flomaton led 21-14.
Atmore recovered another Flomaton squib kickoff and took over at the Flomaton 49-yard line. Facing a third and 12, Atmore had a receiver open but Bradley leveled a hit to knock the ball free, setting Atmore up with a fourth and 12 situation with 7:47 left in the game. The fourth down pass fell incomplete and Flomaton took over at the Atmore 49-yard line.
On first down, Johnson picked up a first down at the Atmore 27. Penalties backed the Canes up but on fourth and 8 from the 11-yard line, Johnson found Quincie McCall open in the end zone for the touchdown. Odom added the PAT and with 4:10 left in the game, Flomaton had stretched its lead to 28-14.
Atmore tried to get back in the game late when it converted an apparent touchdown pass from the 9-yard line, but a holding penalty backed the Blue Devils up to a first and goal situation at the 25.
Atmore then coughed up the football and Flomaton's Johnson recovered to kill the threat with 2:23 left to play.
“Going in we knew how athletic and fast they were,” Coach Vickery said. “Our game plan was to get them in a phone booth and duke it out.”
“I thought we were the more physical team,” Vickery added. “We were able to dominate the line of scrimmage.”
Vickery said without the three miscues of quarterbacks not being able to handle the shotgun snaps, the Canes should have scored 42 points.
“We had too many self-inflicted wounds,” Vickery said. “We can't continue to have those things, like jumping offsides. You just can't do that to yourself.”
But overall, Vickery was pleased.
“I thought our defense played really well in addressing their speed and being physical in our tackling,” he said.
Vickery said the focus quickly turned to regional foe Bayside.
“They've made playoff runs the past three years and were in the championship game three years ago,” Vickery said. “They have a very good football team and are well coached. We'll have our work cut out for us.”
