Eufaula has no trouble with Rehobeth

By: Patrick Johnston | Eufaula Tribune
Published: October 14, 2011

Eufaula High coach Dan Klages needed to challenge his team at halftime of Friday’s game against Rehobeth.

The Tigers were ahead 42-0, but Klages didn’t like what he saw. It had little to do with the offense or defense. His team had outgained the Rebels 350-84 and had scored touchdowns on all six first half possessions.

But according to the coach, his team wasn’t having fun.

“We work too hard not to enjoy the game,” he said.

The players listened. By the fourth quarter, offensive linemen were dancing to the EHS Mighty Tiger Band. Other starters and reserves were cheering loudly every time a defensive reserve “textbook-tackled” a first team Rehobeth player.

And once the final horn sounded on a 56-6 win, one player playfully posed for a reporter’s camera.

“We finally played with some emotion and had a little fun,” Klages said. “At first we acted like we weren’t enjoying it.”

The ninth-ranked Tigers (7-1, 5-1) were never threatened by the host Rebels (2-6, 1-5). They led 21-0, 42-0 and 49-0 at the quarter breaks and ended the game with 515 total yards, including 425 rushing yards.

Senior tailback Maurice Crews rushed for 209 yards and three touchdowns on just 14 carries. He, like most of the starters, only played one series in the second half.

Eufaula’s first quarter touchdowns came on scoring runs by Thomas Ford (23 yards) and quarterback Ben Thomas (2 yards). Thomas also completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Devonte Ware.

Crews scored twice in the second quarter, on runs of 7 and 27 yards. But the biggest cheers from the road crowd came on a long touchdown pass over the middle from Trey Johns to Tyreece Ware. Ware caught the ball between two defenders and sprinted for what the 55-yard catch and run.

Jim Johnson kicked all six of his extra point attempts in the half. Rehobeth did threaten to score once, but Ware intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 65 yards to set up a Crews touchdown.

Crews opened third quarter scoring when he took a pitch from Thomas and raced 40 yards for a score. Jeremiah Forte scored Eufaula’s final touchdown in the first minute of the fourth quarter on a 27-yard run.

Rehobeth scored on the game’s final play when Tyler Simonds went in from one yard. Klages was still pleased with how well the second and third string Tigers played on defense.

“They were physical and tough,” he said. “They really played well.”