By Justin Fedich | The Selma Times-Journal

The Ellwood Christian Eagles had no business running past the No. 1 Maplesville Red Devils on their turf, but on three plays, the Eagles did just that.

Ellwood (3-4, 0-3) fell to Maplesville (6-1, 3-0) 54-18 in a class 1A, region 4 matchup Friday night, but the Eagles managed to make a few big plays against a team that has dominated nearly all of its opponents this season.

“At times we played well with them, and at other times, we didn’t do as well as we should have. Hats off to them, they’re a great program,” said Ellwood head coach Trey Pike. “And that’s what we are trying to get to.”

It only took Maplesville six plays to score 14 points. The Red Devils added to that lead when Terence Dunlap ran in his second score of the night to give Maplesville a 20-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Dunlap, who only ran the ball once in the second half, finished the game with 93 rushing yards and touchdowns of 12, 2 and 9 yards.

“He’s got great vision. He made some cuts. I thought our offensive line early was giving him some running lanes and one thing that helped him was the passing game,” said Maplesville head coach James Hubbert.

The Red Devils were poised to take a four touchdown lead in the second quarter, but Ellwood’s Anthony Woods had other plans. With 6:44 remaining in the second quarter, Woods picked off Maplesville quarterback Nicholas Spencer in the end zone and ran it back all the way to other end of the field for Ellwood’s first score of the game.

“He’s never played before. He’s just an athletic kid trying to learn in a hurry,” Pike said of Woods.

Maplesville answered three plays later with a Dunlap 9-yard touchdown to take a 27-6 lead. Ellwood hung tough, however, as Rayford Mitchell took the ensuing kickoff return all the way for a touchdown.

“When they play up to their ability, they can do a lot of great things,” Pike said.

Maplesville’s Corey Hall added the final score of the second quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run and the Red Devils took a 33-12 lead into halftime.

Ellwood tossed four interceptions in the second half, but recovered two fumbles on defense. The Eagles tried to get back into the game however they could in the second half, opening with an onside kick and then faking a couple of punts.

Spencer connected with Adam Harrison for a 25-yard touchdown and Thomas Schoener ran for an 8-yard touchdown in the third quarter to extend the lead to 47-12.

After Ellwood’s Dawon Posey recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter, the Eagles lined up for a punt on their next drive. Instead of punting, Mitchell scampered down the field for 58 yards and a touchdown.

“I thought they were very athletic and they did some good things on defense,” Hubbert said of Ellwood.

“They got after us.”

Schoener ran in the final score of the game for Maplesville to reach the final of 54-18.

Ellwood plays American Christian Academy next Friday at Memorial Stadium. Maplesville is at A.L. Johnson next Friday.