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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Verbena High School scored in a variety of ways in its final game of the regular season, winning in style over Red Level High School 56-8 on Nov. 1. The Red Devils scored with the traditional rushing and passing touchdowns, but added intercept and fumble return touchdowns on defense as well to send Verbena into the Class 1A state playoffs on a high note.

“Our guys responded well last night, and this is the second time this year we have responded well coming off of a loss,” Verbena head coach Allen Brothers said. “That is one of the big things I look forward to with good teams is seeing how they respond after adversity. We had some outstanding defense, and it was a great defensive night. They were throwing some things at us, and they were a pretty solid football team with good athletes, but our defense really stepped their game up.”

Verbena built a 16-0 lead after the opening quarter and continued to pour it on the rest of the game. Caleb Short picked off a Red Level pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown, followed by Hayden Wilson’s two-point conversion run to make it 24-0 before the visitors scored a touchdown and two-point conversion to send the game to halftime at 24-8.

Verbena’s Jacob Morris picked off a pass and then turned it into points himself with a four-yard touchdown run on the ensuing drive, and Wilson’s two-point conversion stretched the lead to 32-8. Wilson found Layton Bradford later in the quarter for a 25-yard connection and he added the two-point conversion again to make it 40-8.

Morris led the Verbena defense with 19 tackles, and Triston Wilhite pulled down an interception.

Morris’ 39-yard touchdown run and Isaac Stoudemire’s fumble return for a touchdown pushed the game to 56-8, giving the Red Devils the win in blowout fashion.

Verbena ends the 2024 season at 8-2, their best record by winning percentage since the program went 13-1 in 1997. The Red Devils travel to Elba High School for their first-round matchup of the Class 1A state playoffs on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.

“Ultimately, we probably will take the same game plan we have had against teams that are better than us up front and in the skill positions — slow the game down, manage the clock and see if we can wear them down and play solid defense,” Brothers said. “It is going to be a tough challenge for us … There is an opportunity there and our kids are excited, and worst-case scenario you are in the playoffs and playing a team where all of the newspapers will be around you for the other team, so it will be a great opportunity.”