By Dan Smith

GOSHEN – The Elba Tigers showed why they are the number one Class 2A team in Alabama Friday night with an impressive 58-7 win over the Goshen Eagles, led by a strong senior class and the three-touchdown performance of Paris Edwards.

The visiting Tigers received the opening kickoff, and it took only one play to get on the scoreboard when Edwards took the handoff and sprinted 48 yards for the score, and after a failed two-point conversion, Elba led 6-0.

Edwards pulled in a Ramsey Rigby 20-yard touchdown reception on the Tigers’ next possession, and Rigby then connected with Brosnan Cooks for the two-point conversion and a 14-0 lead with 8:23 to play in the first quarter.

Goshen moved the ball on their next possession to the Elba 43, but a tipped ball landed in the hands of Edwards, who scored his third touchdown of the night for a 20-0 Tiger lead.

Cavoseaa’ Stinson of Elba put the Tigers up 28-0 a short time later on a 42-yard pass reception from Rigby, and Edwards ran the two-point conversion in with 4:20 to play in the first quarter.

Elba stretched the lead to 36-0 with 2:13 remaining in the first half when Dontavious Williams scored on a 17-yard run, and Rigby connected with Stinson for the two-point try.

 

In the third quarter Rigby connected with Stinson for a 44-yard pass play, and Williams ran in the two-point conversion for the 44-0 Elba lead.

Goshen got on the scoreboard in the third quarter when sophomore running back Zack Alford sprinted up the middle and down the left sideline for an 84-yard touchdown carry, and the extra point was kicked by Brian Redmon to cut the lead to 44-7.

The Tigers quickly got those points back on the ensuing kickoff, when Ethan Hill returned it for a touchdown and a 52-7 lead.

Elba scored its final touchdown of the night on a short run by Devonian Wilkerson, and a 58-7 lead, which held up to be the final score.

Elba improved to 6-0 on the season and 4-0 in Class 2A, Region 3 play, while Goshen stands at 1-5 on the year and 1-3 in Region 3.

Goshen Head Coach Bart Snyder told his team after the game that he knew Elba was a good team, but also that his Goshen team did not play their best, and made too many mistakes to aid Elba.

“Elba’s good, but there were so many of those points we just handed them,” Coach Snyder said following the game. “We can’t give those things to them. We’ve got to be the ball team that makes defensive and offensive plays, and we’re not making them. We continue to shoot ourselves in the foot, and it just seems right now like we are snakebit.

“We’re so close, but we are so far. We have to win out in the region. We have Central, Highland Home and Zion Chapel in the next three weeks. If we play football, we have a chance. There is no excuse. We have to play football, and play who is on our schedule. We’re going to continue to work, and if we do we will be fine. We just can not continue to make mistakes. We’ve just got to get up and play ball and put on our big boy pants.”

William was the leading rusher for Elba with 65 yards and a TD, while Rigby as 13-of-19 passing for 152 yards and two TD’s.

Goshen quarterback Brock Snyder was 5-of-12 for 42 yards in passing while Alford was the leading rusher with 178 yards and a TD.

Dakarai Siler was the leading tackler with seven individuals and two assists, while Cory Peterson had six tackles and one interception.

Goshen is at Central of Hayneville next Friday night.