The Selma Times-Journal

ISABELLA – Some minor hitches withstanding, things went according to plan for Maplesville Friday night.

Even after a first-quarter touchdown, the Red Devils (5-0, 4-0 1A Region 3) struggled to get into an early rhythm.

But they finally turned things on and rolled up a 58-14 win over cross-town foe Isabella.

The Mustangs (1-5, 0-4) gave up a 36-yard touchdown the first time Maplesville touched the ball.

However, a punt and a turnover kept the Devils’ offense at bay until the middle of the second quarter.

It was a big win for Maplesville, but coach Brent Hubbert saw a team that did not play like it usually does.

“We made some mistakes early with penalties and things like that,” Hubbert said. “We had a couple of offside calls and a late hit out of bounds. It’s just small things. We played pretty sloppy at times.”

Not two minutes into the ball game, quarterback Marcus Wilson hit tight end Brian Bailey for a long score and a 7-0 lead.

It looked like the Devils might start a rhythm, but on their next two possessions they looked nothing like the team that beat up on tough opponents the two weeks prior.

Isabella took over on a fumble near midfield and got as far as Maplesville’s 31 before giving the ball back.

That must have been the spark the Devils needed because they scored touchdowns on their next four possessions. Three of those scores came via turnovers.

Wilson ran 11 yards into the end zone then capitalized on a pair of Allen Edwards’ interceptions with touchdown passes to Nick Andrews and Bailey. Wilson finished the night with 225 passing yards, three touchdowns and an interception on 7-for-13 attempts.

Brad Pike scored from 1 yard out for a 33-0 Maplesville lead going into the locker room.

“That first quarter was what I expected the whole game to be like,” Isabella coach Lanny Jones said. “Most of their big plays weren’t bad coverage. They were just good throws and good catches, and we didn’t make plays on the ball.”

Most of the Maplesville starters were pulled in the second half, and backup quarterback Kevin Aaron wasted no time in hitting Romeo Laister with a 30-yard touchdown for a 39-0 lead. Aaron added touchdown passes to Laister, Darrell Goodwin and James Madsen later in the game and finished 5-of-7 passing with 193 yards.

Norman Craig answered with an 83-yard kickoff return that set Isabella up inside the Maplesville 10. But J.D. Lenoir fumbled to give the ball back.

Hunter McCay then fumbled on the 5, and the Mustangs finally put points on the board.

Craig scored a 1-yard touchdown, and after a failed two-point try Maplesville led 39-6.

Isabella reached the end zone again with 3:47 left in the game when Craig ran in a 21-yarder.