St. George’s Outlasts SBA

CORDOVA, TN (September 10, 2021) – St. Benedict at Auburndale led at the half, but couldn't answer a big third quarter from St. George's and fell to the Gryphons 27-16. 

The Eagles (0-4) dominated the box score, led by Antonio Adams and Alex McAlpin. Adams ran for 149 yards and a score while McAplin passed for 191 yards and a touchdown. Cayden Willis caught five balls for 90 yards while Gary Bair (54 yards) and Seamas Carrasco (24 yards, 1 TD) both caught a pair.

Ryan Weston led the SBA defense with nine total tackles. Hutson Frase had seven stops, including one for a six-yard loss, while Jared Chambers and Tavarius Burton both had six tackles.

SBA totaled 345 yards of offense and held St. George's to just 155.

Jaydon Smith led the St. George's (1-2) with 109 yards rushing and a score. Drake Gonzalez also found the endzone on the night. Wilson Whittemore went 3-8 passing for 42 yards.

St. Benedict grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first with a five-play, 62 yard drive resulting in a Jonathan Johnson field goal.

St. George answered with a touchdown on its next possession only to have SBA go 82 yards on nine plays to take a 10-7 lead into the break.

St. George led off the second with a clock-eating, 10-play drive that ended with a touchdown and 14-10 Gryphons lead.

SBA took the ensuing kick on their own 1 yard line. Adams busted for 65-yards on the first play and set up the Eagles in SGIS territory. The Eagles had a 1^st and goal at the St. George's two, but couldn't punch it in in four tries and turned the ball over on downs.

Trailing by just 11 late in the fourth, the Eagles couldn't capitalize on their chances and St. George scored after an SBA turnover. The Eagles added a score late to make it an 11-point spread at the buzzer.

St. Benedict will be back in action on Friday, September 17 with a trip to Brentwood Academy.