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By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal
The Lowndes Academy Rebels fell to non-regional opponent Autauga Academy 55-32 on the road Thursday night, coming up just short of a winning record, but earning the praise of Rebels’ head football coach Bob Taylor.
The Rebels finished 3-3 in Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) Class A Region 2 play and fell to 5-5 overall Thursday night. But that was a four-win improvement over 2014’s 1-9 campaign. And Taylor called that a “great season.”
He said of his players, “These guys have a great deal of heart and character. They have set the foundation for next year.”
As proof of heart in their final outing of 2015, the Rebels trailed the Autauga Academy Generals 42 to 8 at the half, but rallied, outscoring the Generals 12-7 in the third quarter and 12-6 in the fourth quarter to make a contest of it.
In fact, the Rebels amassed 449 yards of total offense including 160 through the air and 283 on the ground while holding the Generals to 280 yards of total offense. The Rebels also made 23 first downs to 10 for Autauga Academy.
Unfortunately both teams suffered three turnovers each. The Rebels lost one fumble and threw two interceptions while Autauga Academy lost two fumbles and threw one interception.
Lowndes Academy junior quarterback Wade Howard completed 10 of 21 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. He also tossed the two interceptions.
The Rebels were led on the ground by senior Owen Nall, who carried 15 times for 135 yards and one touchdown, junior Brandon Reid, who carried 14 times for 111 yards, and senior David Hussey, who carried 11 times for 24 yards and two touchdowns.
Hussey led the Rebels in pass receptions with six catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
Trailing 42-0 in the second quarter, the Rebels finally got on the scoreboard when Howard hit Hussey with a 30-yard touchdown strike. The 2-point conversion help the Rebels make the score 42-8 at the half.
Nall and Hussey would each score on 3-yard touchdown runs to make it a 42-20 contest in the third quarter. However, Autauga would answer with an 82-yard kickoff return and point after to make it 49-20 through three quarters.
Hussey would score on a 5-yard touchdown run and on a 20-yard pass reception from Howard to make it a 49-32 score in the fourth quarter. But Autauga would get the last word with a final touchdown run to make the final 55-32.
The Rebels were led defensively by Hussey, who had six tackles and three assists, Nall, who had six tackles and two assists, including two tackles for loss, and Reid, who had five tackles and one assist.
Hussey also came up with an interception and a fumble recovery for the Rebels and Nall recovered a fumble, as well.