By Brandon Sumrall / Special to the Advertiser

A homecoming loss is not the goal of any football team, but after coming up on the short end of a 44-16 contest on Oct. 26 against the Loachapoka Indians, that would be the result of homecoming 2018 for the Verbena Red Devils.

The Red Devils would start the contest by receiving the opening kickoff, and after a 22-yard scamper by Xavier DeJarnett, they would cross into the Indians’ red zone. A first and 10 play from the Loachapoka 6-yard line would see a Verbena fumble that would be scooped up by the Indians.

Two plays later and Loachapoka quarterback Aaron Frazier would connect with Za’Kobe Collins for a 93-yard touchdown pass that would put Loachapoka up 8-0.
An ensuing punt by Verbena would set the Indians up near midfield where a four play, 65-yard scoring drive by Loachapoka would put Verbena in a early 16-point hole.
The Red Devils’ next possession would come to an early end after a second and 17 play at the Indians 38 would see a pass attempt fall into the hands of an Indian defender.

Six plays later and Frazier would go in from six yards out to make it a 22-0 Loachapoka lead with 8:25 remaining in the first half.
A pair of scoreless possessions by both teams would see the Indians set up for their next possession at their own 45 where a fumble would be covered up by the Red Devils.

A big fourth down play by Verbena would see Jacob Sanders connect with Imani Walls for 36 yards, which set the Red Devils up first and goal at the Indians 1-yard line. One play later and Sanders would put Verbena on the board to make the score 22-8.

It would not take long for the Indians to answer, as the ensuing kickoff would be returned to the Verbena 4-yard line where Demontrey Moore would go in from the 2-yard line to make it a 30-8 Indians lead with 1:56 remaining in the half.

Loachapoka was far from done for the half, as a quick three and out by Verbena would see the Red Devils forced to punt. With just over a minute to play the Indians would get one last shot from the Verbena 26. Three plays later Frazier would connect with Donwin Hughley for a 36-yard touchdown that would send the game to the halftime break with the Indians leading 36-8.

The Indians would start the second half with possession and looked poised to put together another scoring drive. However, Verbena’s Dawson Rohrbough had other outcomes in mind as he would step in front of a pass from Frazier on third and 7 at the Indians 48 and would return it 52 yards for a Verbena touchdown.
With 8:40 remaining in the third, Verbena trailed 36-16.

Once again the Indians would answer with a score of their own, as Loachapoka used its ensuing possession to move the ball 66 yards on a scoring drive that would be capped with a 34-yard touchdown run by Hughley that would bring the game to its final score of 44-16 midway through the third quarter.

With the Red Devils unable to cut into the Indians lead through the fourth quarter, Loachapoka would cruise to the victory.

“We played physical and tough the entire game,” said Verbena coach Tyler Kelley. “We had some things go against us, but they didn’t let that get to them. We came back out in the second half and played ball, and they competed. I am proud of them for that.”

Verbena (0-8, 0-6 Class 1A, Region 4) will host Isabella (6-3) for the final game of the 2018 regular season for both schools.