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Bears Beat Lighthouse Christian 42-0; Mtn. Grove Here Friday In SCA Action

Signup Begins for 4th Annual Silvey Stampede to be Held Friday, Sept. 9

Caleb Johnson and Quincey McDonald each scored two touchdowns last Friday night as the Ava Bears rolled over Lighthouse Christian Academy 42-0. Johnson passed for a third TD and kicked two extra points, and Stephen Copeland caught a touchdown pass and scored a 2-point conversion.

Ava’s leading rusher, Kelly McDonald, had a 62-yard touchdown run for the Bears and Eli Maggard had a 2-point conversion run to complete the scoring.

The game was played on the field of the Bolivar Middle School after the Springfield homeschool group was unable to secure a field in Springfield.

The Bears will be back home this week to begin the SCA schedule against conference rival Mtn. Grove. Both teams come in with a 2-0 record.

The Bears scored on their first possession of the game and held a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Each team fumbled the ball for a turnover in the opening period of play, but Ava went to work in the second period, scoring three times to hold a 29-0 lead at the half.

Quincy McDonald had three interceptions in the second quarter, one of which was returned 29 yards for a touchdown.

McDonald began the second quarter scoring with a 4-yard run at 10:49 and Maggard ran for the conversion to give the Bears a 14-0 lead.

With approximately 7 minutes left, McDonald pulled in a Chargers pass and returned it for a TD. Stephen Copeland then ran for the conversion to put the Bears up 22-0.

With 1:29 left on the second quarter clock, Johnson passed to Copeland for a 28-yard scoring play, and Johnson kicked the extra point for a 29-0 margin at halftime.

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Kelly McDonald broke a 62-yard touchown run to put the Bears up 35-0, which activated the mercy rule and the running clock. Ava’s final score came at 7:25 in the third quarter on a 31-yard touchdown run by Johnson, and Johnson’s kick put up the final score of the night, 42-0.

Both teams substituted freely from that point, with the Ava coaching staff activating the entire bench in the fourth quarter.

Senior Kelly McDonald rushed for 147 yards and one touchdown Friday night while younger brother, Quincey, a junior, sparked the defense with his three interceptions and a touchdown return.

Sophomore quarterback Caleb Johnson carried 10 times for 50 yards and completed one of three passes for a touchdown. Johnson also kicked two extra points.

The Bears had 352 yards rushing and 28 passing for 380 total offensive yards.

Kelly McDonald was the team’s leading tackler with eight.

As an addendum to last week’s totals, it should be noted that Kelly McDonald had 24 tackles against Marshfield, four of them for losses, and two solo tackles. Bailey Bewley and Eli Maggard had one sack each last week.

Coach Dan Swofford said he can’t recall ever having one player involved in 24 tackles in a single game.

Silvey Stampede Sept. 9

It was announced this week that the 4th annual Silvey Stampede, a racing event for all ages, will be held on Friday night, Sept. 9, prior to the Ava-Mtn. View Liberty football game.

Participants need to sign up by Friday, Sept. 2, to receive a commemorative T-shirt. Entry forms may be left at any school principal’s office.

Event will range from 400 meters (one lap) for ages 0 through grade 2; to 1600 meters (4 laps) for high school and older.

Businesses will compete with co-ed teams running a 4×100 relay.

All proceeds of the Stampede go to the Ava cross country team. Coach Liz Kyger is in charge of the event.