The Thunder may have started off the area schedule with a loss on Friday night, but there may be a silver lining to that cloud. The hardest team in the region may be behind them now.
Jacksonville Christian dropped a 33-6 decision to Appalachian, a team Thunder coach Tommy Miller says he “feels like will be No. 1 or 2 in the region” at the end of the season.
“They were very strong,” Miller said, “physically strong.”
The Eagles (1-1) raced out to a 24-0 halftime lead with the bulk of the damage being done by Colby Harvey and Coty Tawbush. Harvey finished with three scores and Tawbush two.
Jacksonville Christian’s lone score came in the fourth quarter on a 16-yard run by David Parris. The touchdown capped a 12-play, 65-yard drive, and John Robinson booted the extra point.
Jacksonville Christian did move the ball on Appalachian early in the game, too, not just at the end.
After stuffing the Eagles in the first drive of the game, Jacksonville Christian (0-2, 0-1) got the ball back and mounted a 10-play drive that netted 40 yards.
However, the drive didn’t results in points as the Thunder tossed an interception to kill the drive just on the cusp of the red zone.
On the drive, JCA picked up three first downs: two on the ground, and one through the air on an 8-yard Stephen Hurst-to-Andrew Bollinger pass.
With Appalachian now behind them, Miller and the Thunder can focus on the task ahead --- a victory against Victory Christian.
The Lions, located in Pell City, are a team that Miller says throw the ball about “85 percent of the time” and will test his secondary.
“We’re going to have to make sure that we’re where we need to be in our coverage,” Miller said, “They can pick you apart.”
Left hander Michael Kirby, a junior, leads the Lions’ offense and is the key to their offense, Miller said. In the season opener, he showed his stuff going 14-for-22 for 186 yards in a 10-7 win over Collinsville.
“We’ve gotten better both weeks, and I’m proud of that,” Miller said. “If we have a good game, I think we can play with them.
“If we have some mistakes, I think it could go the other way quick.”
