By By SCOTT COOPER – Sports Writer
Getting an impressive performance from their defensive unit, the Neal Middle School Eagles raised their season record to 2-3 when they traveled to meet Flomaton and came away with an 8-0 win.
The Eagles' defense was the story of the game, as it kept Flomaton bottled-up on its side of the field the entire contest. Only once did the NMS defense allow the Hurricanes to cross midfield.
While the defense effectively controlled Flomaton's offensive efforts, the Eagles moved the ball consistently down the field. Although registering only one touchdown, NMS twice had drives that ended inside the Flomaton 5-yard line after the Hurricanes' defense stiffened. On another occasion, a scoring opportunity was barely missed after driving within scoring range.
The two teams battled tooth-and-nail for three quarters to a 0-0 tie before the Eagles scored the game's only touchdown with just over four minutes remaining in the final quarter.
A drive that started at the NMS 40-yard line progressed down to the Flomaton 1-yard line. From there, Marquis Barksdale took into the end zone on a quarterback sneak. The two-point conversion was good, allowing the Eagles to return home with the 8-0 victory.