Arab Loses 27-24 To Albertville
In Overtime Heartbreaker

Sam Maze puts Arab on the scoreboard first with a run from the four yard line
with 3:06 left in the first quarter

The Arabian Knights came into Friday night's game with hopes of knocking off Albertville and notching a second win for the season.  But despite getting on the scoreboard first and leading 7-0 going into the locker room at half-time, the game ended with Albertville on top 27-24 in over time.

Arab won the toss and elected to kickoff to the Aggies who ran the ball back to the 37 yard line.  Albertville was forced to kick on 4th and four.  After a series of downs and ball exchanges, Arab got the ball on the 24 yard line and began a drive lasting 7:12 which covered 76 yards and fifteen plays.  The drive finished with #24 Sam maze crossing the goal line from the 4 yard line.  The point after by Trey Knighton was good and Arab lead Albertville by 7-0 with 3:06 left in the first quarter.

Click Here To View a Web Album of Pictures From the Game

Trey Knighton Kicks 25 Yard Field Goal in Over Time To Put Arab Ahead 24-21

The rest of the first quarter and second quarter were hard fought with neither team able to mount a scoring drive.  After the kickoff Albertville failed to make a first down and had to punt to Arab with 1:27 remaining in the first quarter.  Arab retuned the punt to the 42 yard line.  Taylor Guess was injured during this series of downs and was taken to the field house with a pulled quad muscle.  Arab was unable to move the ball and a faked punt failed forcing Arab to turn the ball over at the Arab 47 yard line.

Arab sacked Albertville for a loss of 20 yards back to the Albertville 36 yard line.  The Aggies fumbled on the 3rd play from scrimmage however the play was ruled dead by the officials and Albertville retained possession.  Albertville, eventually faced with 4th and 10 on Arab's 24 yard line decides to go for it but turns the ball over to Arab on downs with 10:13 left in the second quarter.

Arab and Albertville exchanged possession several times with neither team able to move the ball.  After an Arab snap over the quarterbacks head, Arab is forced to punt from their own 23 yard line.  Albertville  took the punt on Arab's 42 yard line and starts a drive which eventually stalls at the 4 yard line and with 2 seconds remaining in the first half Albertville attempts a field goal which is no good to end the first half.

Albertville kicked off to Arab to begin the second half and Arab took the ball on their 35 yard line.  After a series of downs Arab has to punt the ball away and Albertville takes the punt on their own 28 yard line.  With possession of the ball, Albertville begins a drive that covers 72 yards and 14 plays which is capped off by a 2 yard run by Rodney Looney for Albertville first score.  The point after by Chris Charles is good.  The drive takes 6:15 off the clock and with 3:37 left in the third quarter the score is tied 7-7.

Albertville's kickoff is taken by Arab at their 41 yard line but Arab is unable to pickup a first down and punts the ball to Albertville on the 26 yard line.  The 3rd quarter ended with Albertville at the Arab 45 yard line.

Taking the field in the 4th quarter, Albertville continues their drive toward the goal line and after covering 74 yards in 9 plays, Quinton Arnold makes a 2 yard dash to score and again the point after is good by Chris Charles giving Albertville a 14-7 lead with 9:20 left in the 4th quarter.

Wes Patterson scores on a 20 yard play to tie the game 14 - 14

Arab comes right back with a drive lasting 3:32 which began at their 29 yard line and covers 71 yards in 9 plays.  The drive is capped off with a 20 yard touch down pass from Heath Pope to Wes Patterson.  Trey Knighton split the uprights with the point after try and the score is tied again with 5:45 left in the fourth quarter.

After Arab kicks to Albertville the Knights defense stiffens and holds the Aggies who punt the ball back to Arab on their 36 yard line.  After a couple of downs which pick up 3 yards, Sam Maze breaks down the right side of the field and scampers to a 61 yard touch down.  Trey Knighton tacks on his 3rd point after to give Arab the lead 21-14 with 2:19 left in the quarter.

Sam Maze breaks a tackle for a 61 yard touchdown run to give Arab a 21-14 lead

Albertville wastes no time in striking back, taking the kickoff on their own 32 yard line and returning to the 36.  Albertville completes a pass which puts them on Arab's 16 yard line.  two plays later Rodney Looney crosses the goal line capping a 68 yard drive which only took one minute off the clock.  Chris Charles adds his third point after of the night and the score is tied 21-21 with 1:19 left in the fourth quarter.

Arab takes the kickoff and returns to the 35 yard line but then fumbles the ball on the 31 yard line and Albertville recovered in Arab territory. After Albertville's pass to the 8 yard line with 16 seconds on the clock and a time out with 5.7 seconds Albertville attempts a 20 yard field goal which misses with 2 seconds left on the clock.  Arab takes possession of the ball and takes a knee to send the game into overtime.

In overtime each team gets a possession at the 10 yard line with each team using the same end of the field.  Arab won the toss giving them the first possession.  Their first play from the 10 losses 2 yards.  The second play is an incomplete pass making it 3rd down and 12.  On the third play Arab manages to gain 4 yards and finds themselves 8 yards shy of the goal.  Arab elects to try a 25 yard field goal and Trey Knighton nails it to give Arab a 24-21 lead.

Albertville took possession of the ball on the 10 and quickly gains five yards on the first play.  On the second play Rodney Looney carries the ball 5 yards to score the winning touch down.  Final Score - Albertville 27 - Arab 24.

Stats courtesy of "Citizen" Bill Rutherford and Matthew Green of Fun 92.7 Radio and Wayne Burgett of Arab- Today.  Photos by Dwight Hayes of Arab Today.