Arab Defeats Southside 20 - 16
Last Second Fumble Recovery By Arab Assures Win

Richard McClelland (32) recovers a Southside fumble on the 4 yard line with 65 seconds left in the game to preserve Arab's 20-16 lead.
Click photo to enlarge - Photo by Dwight Hayes

September 17, 2006
The Arabian Knights added a second win to their record Friday night as they traveled to Southside to take on the Southside Panthers.  The game was dominated by penalties against both teams.  Game officials threw a total of fourteen yellow flags, seven against each team.  Arab went into the game with a 1-1 record while Southside came to the field with an 0-2 record. 

Although Arab won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kick-off the opening seconds of the game were shocking for the Knights.  On the first down the Knights were called for a delay of game penalty without ever snapping the ball after some sideline confusion on the play call.  On the second attempt to get the drive started, Heith Pope tossed a pass that was picked off by the Panthers on the twenty-six yard line and was promptly run back for a touchdown.  The extra point attempt by Southside was wide, but with only eight seconds run off of the clock, Southside had stunned the Knights and led 6-0.

Following the touchdown score, Southside attempted an onside kick to try for an Arab fumble but the Knights covered the ball and took over play on the forty-four yard line.  The Knights started a quick march down the field picking up several first downs.  The drive stalled at the six yard line as the Knights were thrown for a loss on three straight plays.  Arab was forced to attempt a field goal.  The thirty four yard field goal attempt by Trey Knighton split the goal posts as Arab cut the Southside lead in half.  Arab ran eleven plays during the drive and with 6:33 left on the first quarter clock the Panthers led 6-3.

Southside took the Arab kickoff but was not able to sustain a drive and was forced to punt the ball away.  Arab took the punt on their own twenty yard line but after an offside penalty and a illegal block penalty they were forced to punt as well.  As time ran our in the first quarter Southside was attempting to mount another drive which would eventually stall and force yet another punt.  Arab took the punt and on the second play from scrimmage Heith Pope connected with Jacob McDonald at the twenty five yard line for a touchdown.  McDonald was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after the touchdown because he jumped into the air as he went into the end zone.  The line judge who made the call said that he was "taunting".  The point after attempt was good and the Knights led 10-6.  The two plays covered forty-seven yards and took ran forty-three seconds off of the clock.

With 2:24 left in the second quarter, Trey Knighton kicked his second field goal of the half to put Arab on top by a score of 13-6.  Southside responded by taking the ball to the four yard line but a stubborn Arab defense stopped the drive and with five seconds left in the first half the Panthers added three points with a field goal of their own.  The first half ended with Arab leading 13-9.

The third quarter went scoreless until Southside was finally able to capitalize on a drive to score a touchdown with twenty four seconds left in the third quarter.  Southside then led 16-13 as the third quarter ended.

In the fourth quarter Arab began a drive which took some fifteen plays to cross the goal line but with 8:16 left in the game Arab led 20-16.

Southside was unable to sustain a drive and Arab eventually took possession of the ball and began a drive that was halted on a fumble which was recovered by Southside.  The Panthers wasted no time in driving the ball toward their goal line and eating precious clock time as they went.  After driving the ball to the one yard line the Arab defense stiffened and forced a Southside fumble which was recovered for the Arabian Knights by Richard McClelland on the four yard line with sixty-five seconds left on the clock.  On the first play Arab was again hit with a delay of game penalty.  Arab ran the clock our with three plays up the middle.  Final score Arab 20 and Southside 16.

This Friday night Arab will host the Lee Generals of Huntsville who are 0-3 on the season after losing to Johnson, Etowah and Fort Payne.

Click here for a photo journal of the Arab-Southside game...

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