SFHS travels to Wetumpka for Class 6A quarterfinals

Spanish Fort 48, Sidney Lanier 26

• Toros tackle Poets, advance to quarterfinals at Wetumpka

Tony Whitehead, GCM Sports
Posted 11/18/17

The Toros’ defense effectively shutdown a potent Poets’ attack while the Spanish Fort offense built a 35-10 lead by halftime and pushed on to a 48-26 round-two playoff win. Jack Samsel led the SF offense with six ...

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SFHS travels to Wetumpka for Class 6A quarterfinals

Spanish Fort 48, Sidney Lanier 26

• Toros tackle Poets, advance to quarterfinals at Wetumpka

Posted

SPANISH FORT, Ala. – The Toros’ defense effectively shutdown a potent Poets’ attack while the Spanish Fort offense built a 35-10 lead by halftime and pushed on to a 48-26 round-two playoff win. Jack Samsel led the SF offense with six touchdowns: Five passing and one rushing. The Toros move on to the Class 6A quarterfinals at Wetumpka Friday.
“Our defense was big tonight,” said Spanish Fort head coach Ben Blackmon. “We made several fourth down stops, blocked a field goal, caused turnovers. I was very proud of them. We’ve got to take it one game at a time now and go get ready to play the next one.”
He added that containing Lanier quarterback James Foster was key to the outcome.
“We needed to play well tonight. They have a tremendous quarterback, very dynamic. We had to focus on our game and get some pressure on him. Our defense did that tonight.”
The Toros improved to 11-1 this year. Spanish Fort has never lost a playoff game (5A or 6A) in the first or second-rounds.

Conner Hegan scored the Toros’ first TD on a 70-yard run. Samsel connected for touchdown passes with Dayton Reeder twice and once with Kris Abrams-Draine, Corson Swan and Jeremiah Hixon.
“Some college is missing the boat if they don’t offer that kid (Jack Samsel) a scholarship,” Blackmon said. “He’s a winner. He’s a leader. He’s everything you want in a quarterback.”
The Toros led 35-10 at the half and 48-10 into the fourth quarter before Lanier added two late scores.
“It was a great win for us tonight,” Blackmon said. “We came out and executed. Started fast. We had a good lead at the half and knew we would need more good series in the second half to put it away. It was a tremendous team effort.”
Jacory Merritt scored twice for Sidney Lanier. The Poets finished their 2017 season at 10-2.
Spanish Fort travels to Wetumpka Friday for the Class 6A quarterfinals. Wetumpka (11-1) defeated Carver-Montgomery (5-7) 27-7 in round two.