ACA comes up short in shootout

Patricia Smith
ECB Publishing, Inc.

On Friday, Nov 11, the Aucilla Christian Academy (ACA) Warriors stepped onto their home field in the Class 1R Region Two Quarter-final against the Hornets of Cottondale High School. Warrior Jace Grant turned in another star performance, but despite his four touchdowns, the Warriors came up short, 54-40, to the visiting Hornets.
The Hornets struck first with a rushing touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion putting the first eight on the scoreboard. Aucilla quickly bounced back at the end of the first quarter with less than two minutes left, when Grant ran in a touchdown, but the try for a two-point conversion was no good. At the end of the first quarter, the Hornets led with an 8-6 score.
In the early moments of the second quarter, Grant punched the ball over the goal line from three yards out. The ensuing two-point conversion failed and the Warriors held a 12-8 lead. The Hornets responded quickly with an 88-yard rushing touchdown, putting the Hornets ahead 14-12. With 1:12 left in the first half, the Hornets put another touchdown on the scoreboard, taking a 22-12 lead into halftime.
From that point, the Warriors were playing “catch-up.” After a Hornet turnover at their own 10-yard line, Grant ran the ball to pay-dirt for his third rushing touchdown of the contest. The ensuing two-point conversion failed and the score was 22-18, in favor of the Hornets, early in the third period. The Hornets responded, capping off their next possession with a 20-yard rushing touchdown. The Hornets extended their lead 30-18 with a successful two-point conversion. On the Warriors' next possession, Grant scored his fourth touchdown of the evening from 22 yards out. This time the two-point conversion was successful as Tucker Wiles took the ball over the goal line, putting the score at 30-26, with close to four minutes still to play in the third quarter. The game continued to ebb and flow as the Hornets responded with a 55-yard touchdown pass, followed by a successful two-point conversion, making the score 38-26 in the waning moments of the third period.
Early in the fourth quarter, Warrior quarterback, Ethan Bass connected with Wiles on a 34-yard touchdown pass, followed by another successful two-point conversion. The Hornets scored another touchdown on their next possession, keeping the contest just out of reach for the Warriors. The Warriors managed to close the gap once more with another Bass to Wiles touchdown connection. The Warriors' two-point conversion attempt failed and the score was 46-40, in favor of the Hornets, midway through the final period. The Hornets added another insurance touchdown in the final two minutes of the game, followed by another two-point conversion, putting the score at 54-40.
Grant added 149 yards to his 2022, record-breaking season, finishing his senior season with 1866 yards. Bass completed seven of 12 passes, for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Wiles had seven receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
Grant and Bass earned Co-Offensive Players of the Week honors for the Warriors. Josh Agner was the Defensive Player of the Week for his five tackles. Wiles was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. Warrior Awards went out to Ryan Adams, Gabe Gamalero, Brewster Bass, Peyton Windham, Axel Day, Mason Craig and Aiden Day.
The Warriors finished their 2022 season with a 7-3 record.