The Alabama Steel hit the road to take on the Mississippi Dragons Saturday, leaving the Dragons in the dust 44-24. A slow start for the Steel led to an early 12-0 lead for the Dragons. A few shaky moments from the Steel offense, alongside a few self-inflicted penalties, gave the Dragons an easy start to the first quarter. The Dragon lead wouldn’t last long, however. The Steel defense prevented the Dragons from securing the two-point conversions on their first touchdowns. This was the first of an incredible show from the defense. The Steel scrambled and answered with just over 8:00 left in the first. Runningback Jordan Acoff led the drive, barrelling through defenders to put the Steel within 20 with a new set of downs. Quarterback Donovan McCoy met the hands of Jamarrie Barnes with a 20-yard floater into the back of the endzone to give the Steel six.
We had a lot of mistakes that we need to get cleaned up, but we never gave up. The first quarter was a wake-up call for us… —Jordan Acoff
Wake-up Call Answered
The Steel would take the lead at the top of the second quarter courtesy of runningback Ricardo Windham slipping in on the far side of the endzone, taking multiple defenders with him. Adding on a two-point conversion from a Willie Layton run, the Steel led 14-12. The Dragons’ next possession went down in flames, thanks to the Steel defense. Safety Courtney Wilson smacked the drive on the kickoff return, and Jeremy Hunter took the life out of it with a sack, causing a seven-yard loss. The Dragons were forced to punt, but a botched snap returned possession to the Dragons. However, the possession wouldn’t prevail for the Dragons, ending in a failed field goal attempt.
Run, Acoff, Run
The next possession for the Steel gained heat after a 23-yard pass from McCoy to wide receiver Swade Hutchinson. Acoff unloaded on the run, putting the Steel in scoring position once again. McCoy would become the victim of an endzone interception, continuing the see-saw possession sequence. Fortunately for the Steel, they were gifted a turnover on downs inside the 10-yard line. A wild lob to Willie Layton from McCoy on his way to the ground on a potential sack led to a Steel touchdown with just :46 left in the half. Another Acoff power run-through put two more on the board for the Steel, upping the lead 22-12. The Dragons answered with 27 seconds left in the half to cut the Steel lead to four.
Add it up
The second half was calling for a Steel W. After the Dragons turned the ball over on downs in the third at their own 23-yard line, the Steel wanted all the smoke. Layton took the handoff and barged straight up the middle for a touchdown without delay. Layton took the snap on the two-point conversion handing off to Acoff seamlessly to put the Steel up 30-18. McCoy met Calvin Street IV for a series of impressive gains to put the Steel right back in scoring position. McCoy hit the endzone on a quarterback sneak to tack on 6 for the Steel to make it 36-18. The Dragons would again turnover on downs; kudos to the Steel defense once again.
“We execute, we win.” —Offensive Coordinator, Travell Surles
Locked, Layton & Loaded
A gift of possession at the 15-yard line led to another Steel touchdown. Windham’s run game got the Steel closer, and McCoy finished it off with a pass to Daeveon Sistrunk to put the Steel up 24. In true fashion, Layton takes the snap on the two-point conversion. Only this time, there’s a fake to Acoff. Layton effortlessly slides off in the endzone to up the Steel lead to 26. The Dragons added another touchdown with 39 seconds to go in the game to cut the lead to 20 for a 44-24 final.
“…We overcame and are now shifting the focus to this weekend and the playoffs.” —Coach Jeffery Eiland
This Saturday, the Steel will be back at home, facing the Alabama Silverbacks. In their first meeting two weeks ago, the Steel took the win, 30-16.
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