Two Crenshaw County teams experienced losses on home turf this week. Crenshaw Christian Academy fell to Southern Academy 20-46 and Luverne ceded victory to Goshen 17-34.

Crenshaw Christian Academy

The Crenshaw Christian Academy (CCA) hosted Southern Academy at home Friday and sustained a 20-46 loss. The defeat brings CCA to second place in the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) Class A Region 1 with a 6-3, 2-1 record.

Head coach Brandon Burleson said Southern brought a playoff-caliber team, one that is known to be very aggressive. 

“We know we have to make sure we are very sound in our assignments and execute the way we have planned,” Burleson said hours before the game.

Southern scored with two minutes left in the first quarter by gaining a 79-yard rushing touchdown.

Crenshaw Christian put the first points on the board in the second quarter as No. 23, Grant Taylor, found the endzone with a one-yard rushing touchdown.

Southern scored again with a 45-yard pass completion. A 14-yard passing touchdown put more points up for Southern and after a two-point conversion, the first half ended with Southern ahead 20-6.

The Cougars sustained injuries early in the season, but Burleson said all players are back in place.

“We’re still getting a little healthier each week,” he said. “Having players back last week was nice and helped us get back on track.”

Southern gained two more touchdowns in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Taylor gained another 1-yard rushing touchdown, then completed a pass to No. 2 Jake Lawrence for a two-point conversion.

Another Southern touchdown was followed by a 14-yard pass completed to No. 1 Jacob Williams, but Southern held their ground, giving up no other points to their hosts.

The Cougars travel to meet Lowndes Academy on Oct. 20.

Luverne School

The Tigers hosted Goshen Friday, sustaining their second back-to-back loss this season, 17-34. Now ranked fourth in Class 2A, Region 3, Luverne now holds a 6-2, 3-2 season record.

But according to head coach Ed Rigby, the team continues fighting for the win.

“Our kids don’t quit,” Rigby said. “They keep showing up, they keep playing. Those are the things that went well.”

Myrez Gross had 13 tackles throughout the game, Rigby said. Wyatt Cornett had 10, and Jackson Ballard had eight, he added.

Tavion Rainey rushed for 57 yards and Mason Miller threw for 42 on three of the 13 attempts.

And while many things went well for the Tigers, Rigby noted mistakes kept the team from grasping the win.

“We’re creating too many issues for ourselves,” hee said. “We don’t need help from the other team, we’re doing it to ourselves with penalties, turnovers, not getting lined up right defensively.”

The coach said many little things contributed to the loss and focusing on eliminating the mistakes could still land the Tigers in the playoffs.

“We have to eliminate our mistakes,” he said. “We will end up with a really good season and make a run to the playoffs, but first we have to fix our little mistakes.”

To that end, Rigby said the Tigers are working offensively to help players gain confidence.

“We rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse,” he said. “We’ve got to settle down and think through things out there, slow the game down in our head and not be so rushed.”

Luverne travels to face Reeltown on Oct. 20.

Brantley School

The Bulldogs had a bye week on Oct. 13. The team, now 3-4, 3-2, travels to play Pleasant Home on Oct. 20.