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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Maplesville High School used a potent rushing attack to blowout Keith High School 49-6 on Oct. 17 and sit one win away from a region championship. The Red Devils out rushed Keith 273 to -9, and were led by Nehemiah McCary who ran for 150 yards on 10 carries and a season-high four touchdowns.

“We actually played well in all three phases (of the game) and both our offense and defense showed up, which we have struggled a bit with this year,” Maplesville head coach Brad Abbott said. “Some games the offense is hitting on all cylinders and the defense would not be hitting and vice versa, but last night all three phases showed up and did an outstanding job the entire game.”

McCary got a trio of touchdown rushes in the first quarter — 20 yards, 25 yards and seven yards, to put Maplesville out in front early 21-0. He got his fourth score early in the second quarter from four yards out, and Pearce Yeargan connected with Aidan Abbott from four yards out to extend the host’s lead to 35-0 at the halftime break.

Yeargan threw the ball only eight times, completing five of them for 29 yards.

The finishing touches on the win were placed by Ty Bailey with a 35-yard touchdown scamper and Randall Stoudenmire’s short touchdown run to give Maplesville the win down the stretch.

Stoudenmire ran for 60 yards on 10 carries. Jay Lagrone was the leading tackler for Maplesville with five stops, and Von Woods had a sack.

Maplesville (7-1) can win the region championship with victory over Verbena High School on Oct. 25 in its next game.

“It should be a great week of preparation and an exciting game,” Brad Abbott said. “You have two in-county teams who have been having good years this year, and we definitely respect Verbena. We know what they represent, and coach (Allen) Brothers does a great job over there with that team … We hope we can match their intensity they are going to bring in here, and it should be a good game.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Maplesville High School.