By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser

After losing a tough game last week on the road at Sweet Water, Maplesville showed no signs of a hangover as they defeated Ellwood Christian, 48-12.

The seventh-ranked Red Devils (5-1 overall, 4-0 in Class 1A, Region 3) won the toss, elected to receive and looked as though they would score on their opening drive, but quarterback Colby Chambers would be intercepted at the Ellwood 17-yard line.

The turnover would not dampen the play of the Devils as they would go on to score on four of their next five drives–on touchdown runs by running back Brintain Hill from 4, 2, 5, and 7 yards out.

The MHS defense held the Eagles (3-3, 2-2) to one first down, the result of a penalty in the first half, and Maplesville would go to the locker room up 28-0 at halftime.

The Devils continued their domination of the Eagles in the second half, scoring on their first two drives, on a 3-yard run by Hill and a 7-yard touchdown run by Chambers.

The Maplesville domination of the Eagle offense, holding them to negative total yardage through three quarters, would finally come to an end late in the fourth quarter when Ellwood would find success in the passing game, scoring on two drives and ending the shutout.

Maplesville would go on to score once more, on a 90-yard kickoff return by Damian Mitchell, and cap off the win.

Hill, a senior, led the way for the Devils on offense with 70 yards on 15 carries and five touchdowns.

Chamers added 108 yards through the air and one rushing touchdown. Mitchell, a junior, had the kickoff return for a score and also intercepted Ellwood on the visitors’ final drive.

“We had a few mistakes early on; we have got to get rid of the mistakes,” MHS coach Brent Hubbert said but added that he was “very proud of the defense. I think the defense did a tremendous job.”