SBA Opens Season with Road Loss to Brighton

BRIGHTON, TN (August 20, 2021) – Junior Antonio Adams ran for 91 yards and freshman Alex McAlpin threw for 126 more, but Brighton proved to be too much as St. Benedict at Auburndale fell 38-0 in its 2021 season opener.

Adams was hot in the first series and ripped off a pair of big runs to get the Eagles to Brighton's 39. The drive stalled, however and SBA turned it over on downs. The Cardinals took over and needed just one play to get on the board as Braxton Sharp took it 70-yards for the score on the home team's first play. They then converted the two-point play to put SBA in an 8-0 hole.

While the SBA offense was looking for its groove, the defense dug in to keep it close. In the final seconds of the first, Brighton was diving in for a score, but Tavarius Burton laid a big hit at the goal line, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Seamus Carrasco for a touchback.

Sharp struck again on the first play of the second quarter, this time running for a 54-yard score and putting SBA down 14-0 after a failed PAT. After an Eagles three-and-out, Brighton pulled away on a three-play, 60-yard drive in the waning moments of the half to take a 22-0 lead at the break.  

The Cardinals then blew the game open to start the second, returning the kickoff all the way for a 30-0 advantage. Brighton tacked on fourth TD on its next possession and made the two-point conversion for a 38-0 lead.

The two teams then played scoreless in the fourth. SBA ended with some fireworks as McAlpin hit Taylor Davis for a 52-yard play down the Brighton 13 as time expired.

SBA totaled 179 yards offense to 292 from Brighton. The Eagles defense held the Cardinals to just 48 yards in the air and had two sacks. Carrasco led with six talks while Jared Chambers and Joseph McCusker each tallied three. Myles Morrow had a solo sack on the day with Jordan Holt and McCusker each getting a half sack.

SBA is at The Nest for the first time in 2021 on Friday, August 27 hosting Bartlett at 7 p.m.