By Gary Thomas

The 2A, No. 1 ranked Highland Home Flying Squadron stayed perfect this past Friday night as they traveled to Dale County and ripped the Ariton Purple Cats, 44-13, in the third round of the AHSAA playoffs. But for the second week in a row, coach Justin Bragg‘s high-powered offense came out sluggish as they managed only six points in the first quarter. 

That touchdown came at the 9:41 mark as returning senior quarterback TJ Washington hit JJ Valk on a seven-yard scoring strike. The PAT kick by Austin Norman was blocked to give Highland Home a 6 to 0 lead over Ariton, and that would be all the scoring in the first quarter.

To start the second quarter, the turnover bug bit the Purple Cat offense when Squadron linebacker CJ May recovered a Cat fumble at the 30-yard line with 5:03 left before halftime. The Washington-to-Faulk connection struck again on an eight-yard touchdown toss to make a 12 to 0 lead for the Flyboys.

On the first play from scrimmage after the ensuing kick off, Squadron double back Logan Taylor picked off an Ariton pass at the 32-yard line. From there the Flyboy offense drove 32 yards in five plays with running back Austin Crittenden covering the final 20 yards for the Flyboys’ score. Trailing 18 to 0, Ariton kick returner Wells Ganey raced 84 yards with a Norman kick to cut into the Squadron lead 18 to 7.

With 43 seconds left in the first half, Washington threw his third scoring pass of the game on a 38-yard toss to May. To close out the scoring for the half with Highland Home up 24 to 7 over the cats.

To start the third quarter at the 7:21 mark, Ariton doubleback Brody Joyce picked off a Washington pass at the Highland Home 35-yard line and three plays later, Ganey got his second touchdown, closing the squadron lead to 24 to 13.

Going into the fourth quarter, Washington hit Squadron receiver Tyler Cheney on an 80-yard touchdown pass, and after the PAT run for two was good, the Squadron had a 32 to 13 lead with 8:10 left in the game. After the Squadron defense stiffened to force a punt, back up quarterback Tanner Sexton increased the Flyboy lead to 38 to 13 and a late Squadron score made the final score. Highland Home 44, Arnon 13.

On both sides of the ball, the Squadron had standing games as the defense forced five Ariton turnovers and held their offense to under 125 yards of total offense. On the offensive side of the ball, the Flyboys had 545 total yards and scored seven touchdowns. But place kicker Norman was not himself, as he went 0-for-6 on his PAT kicker attempts.

This week, the 13-0 Flyboys will travel to Reeltown to face the 12-1 Rebels in the semi final round of the AHSAA state playoffs this Friday.