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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Verbena High School’s magical 2024 season came to an end on Nov. 8, falling 77-14 on the road at Elba High School. After one of their best seasons of the last 20 years, the Red Devils came up against a buzz saw in the 2023 state semifinalists.

“Our guys played hard and got after it, but we were overmatched in every aspect of the game,” Verbena head coach Allen Brothers said. “We did not have any answer for them — the speed, the physicality … (Elba is) a really good football team.”

Verbena found some traction on offense in the second half and were able to move the ball some as Hayden Wilson took in a rushing touchdown, followed by Jacob Morris’ two-point conversion run. Morris got a rushing touchdown of his own late in the game as time expired.

“I have been doing this for a long time now, and this is by far the grittiest team and the most determined team that I have had,” Brothers said. “We were not the most athletic team on Friday nights and we were undersized at times, but they found a way to win and found a way to grit it out. They played great as a team, and that is what I will remember the most — they had a resolve about them that a lot of teams do not. They were hungry to win, they played together and it was a fun team to coach.”

Verbena ends its 2024 season at 8-3.