Game 7 - Boaz at East

East 34, Boaz 18 - The East Limestone Indians raced to an early lead and withstood a late Boaz rally to take a key Region 7 win. The Indians took the opening kickoff and made a statement by scoring in 2 plays. Marquez Pride took it 51 yards on the first play from scrimmage to give the Indians a first down at the Boaz 19. Antwan James scored on the next play. With Keith Southard's PAT, East led 7-0 less than a minute into the game. On the Pirates' next possession, Jonathan Hill intercepted a pass and returned it to the Indian 49. Five plays later, Evan Whiteside scored from 7 yards out to extend the lead to 13-0. The drive was highlighted by a 28 yard pass from Whiteside to Hill. Early in the second quarter, the Indians stopped the Pirates on downs and took over on the East 44. A seven play drive was capped off with a 10 yard run by Whiteside. The 2-point conversion failed, and East led 19-0. After the kickoff, Boaz drove 69 yards in 11 plays with Nathan Fordham scoring from 8 yards out. The PAT was blocked, and East led 19-6. The score was the first points that the East defense has given up in the first half this season. The Indians got a 34 yard field goal from Southard as the first half ended. The drive was set up when Hill returned a punt to the Boaz 11. During the halftime festivities, Sulee Lewis was crowned Homecoming Queen 2002. Boaz controlled the ball much of the third quarter, but was not able to cut into the East lead. At the end of the quarter, a short Boaz punt put East in business at the Boaz 49. James capped a 4-play drive with a 29 yard run to extend the East lead to 28-6. At this point, it looked like a comfortable margin. However, Boaz took the kickoff  and marched 62 yards in 7 plays to close the gap to 28-12. The score came on an 11 yard pass from A.J. Milwee to Ryan Pullen. The 2-point conversion failed. East went 3 and out on the next series. Boaz then blocked the punt and took over on the East 27. Milwee scored from 5 yards out, but the 2-point conversion failed. The East lead was now 28-18 with 6:27 left. Hill recovered the onside kick at the Boaz 49. James put the game out of reach with a 37 yard run, aided by a super Byron Dubose block. Boaz fumbled on the next possession, and James recovered at the Boaz 44. The game ended with the Indians at the Boaz 6. The undefeated Indians travel to Fairview next Friday for a Region 7 contest. Boaz hosts undefeated North Jackson in a key Region 7 game.