VINEMONT, Ala. – The Vinemont Eagles were back home Friday night to wrap up the regular season against the rival Holly Pond Broncos and it took a pair of late scores for the Eagles to pull away for good and defeat the Broncos on senior night 40-24.
Vinemont received the ball first and drove right down the field, but the Broncos got on the board first when Juan Yanez recovered a fumble and raced 85 yards the other way to put the Broncos up 8-0 early in the first quarter.
Holly Pond got the ball right back after a successful onside kick, but the Eagles defense stepped up to force a three and out. Vinemont then went on a lengthy drive and tied the game at 8 late in the first quarter when Josh Rhodes scored from 19 yards out. On the ensuing possession the Eagles defense stiffened and got a fourth down stop, their offense converted a fourth down and later found the endzone to go ahead 16-8 when Diego Rodriguez scored on a 4-yard run early in the second quarter.
The Eagles got the ball back after a three and out, midway through the second quarter Rush Sandlin found Dawson Wilhite for a 16-yard touchdown to put the Eagles up 24-8. Vinemont forced an incomplete pass on fourth down to stop a Bronco drive with just under 2 minutes remaining in the first half. The Eagles were driving and looking to extend their lead before halftime but a 61-yard scoop and score by Zane Faulkner cut the lead to 24-16.
Holly Pond came out of the locker room and went on a lengthy drive and tied the game at 24 with just over 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Vinemont returned the favor and went on a lengthy drive of their own and regained the lead, 32-24, early in the fourth quarter when Rush Sandlin plunged into the endzone from a yard out. The Broncos were getting close to the red zone to potentially tie the game, but Kyler Pugh recovered a fumble to give the ball back to the Eagles. Four plays later Kayden Henderson raced 58 yards to put the Eagles up 40-24 with 3:23 remaining in the game. On first down Sawyer Olinger connected with Boston Gibbs for a big gain, on the next play the Broncos went deep and were picked off by Malachi Adams. Vinemont was able to run out the clock to secure a 40-24, senior night victory and finish the regular season 4-6.
The Eagles will now turn their attention to the opening round of the state playoffs. Vinemont will travel to take on Sylvania in round one Nov. 10.
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