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Homewood vs. Center Point
Traveon Allen gets the crowd excited before a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Homewood vs. Center Point
Larkin Williams makes a pass during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Homewood vs. Center Point
KeOnte Davis runs the ball during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Stephon May runs the ball during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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The Homewood marching band and dancers performed during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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The Homewood marching band and dancers performed during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Layton Dudley
Homewood vs. Center Point
The Homewood marching band and dancers performed during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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The Homewood marching band and dancers performed during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Hansin Dalton runs the ball during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Wilson McCraw makes a carry during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Wilson McCraw makes a carry during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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The Homewood cheerleaders celebrate a touchdown during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Trae Ausmer runs out during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Homewood vs. Center Point
KeOnte Davis runs the ball during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Homewood vs. Center Point
KeOnte Davis dives for a touchdown during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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KeOnte Davis celebrates a touchdown during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Homewood vs. Center Point
Trae Ausmer makes a play during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Homewood vs. Center Point
Hansin Dalton runs the ball during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Homewood vs. Center Point
Hansin Dalton makes a play during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Trae Ausmer gets tangled up with Robert Blanco during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Homewood recovers a fumble during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Traveon Allen makes a tackle during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Homewood vs. Center Point
Traveon Allen makes a tackle during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Homewood vs. Center Point
Homewood tackles the Eagles during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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John Firnberg blocks a kick during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Homewood vs. Center Point
Traveon Allen makes a tackle during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Homewood vs. Center Point
Trae Ausmer makes a play during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Larkin Williams looks to pass during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Homewood vs. Center Point
The Homewood marching band and dancers performed during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Antoine McGhee gets the ball during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
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Trae Ausmer runs the ball during a game between Center Point and Homewood on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
HOMEWOOD – It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win.
On Friday night, the Class 6A No. 8 Homewood High School football team struggled to move the football, but emerged with a 24-0 victory over Center Point.
“We have never struggled that much to score 24 points,” said Homewood head coach Ben Berguson. “Give Center Point a lot of credit, their defensive line whipped our offensive line all night long.”
Homewood (4-1) rushed for just 57 yards on the night, as Center Point — which has improved greatly under first-year coach George Bates — neutralized what is normally a strength for the Patriots offense.
Luckily for the Patriots, their defense was up to the task. Homewood limited Center Point to 97 total yards for the contest, with much of that coming on a couple chunk plays in the second half.
“Our defense, they’re our glue,” Berguson said. “They always play well.”
Center Point’s (2-3) only scoring threat of the evening came after a Patriots gift, as Homewood muffed a punt at its own 20-yard line. The Eagles advanced to the 1-yard line, but fumbled a fourth-down snap and turned the ball over.
Berguson said his team handled the open week last week well, but added that the distractions of homecoming may have played a part in Homewood’s struggles.
“I wanted to pick up where we left off with Helena tonight,” said Berguson, referring to the Patriots’ 48-6 thrashing of the Huskies two weeks ago. “I’m really disappointed in that. It could be the open date and the week with homecoming, but we’ll get things back together.”
Homewood’s offense started out on a strong note, marching 67 yards on 11 plays to score on its initial possession. The drive was capped off by Larkin Williams’ rollout pass to Marcus McGhee, who scored from 11 yards out to make it 7-0.
The Patriots blocked Center Point’s punt early in the second quarter, but turned the ball over on downs after four plays. They salvaged points two drives later, as Lane Gilchrist knocked home a 23-yard field goal to give Homewood a 10-0 lead at the half.
Center Point helped Homewood with a special teams mistake in the third quarter, muffing a punt and giving Homewood a short field at the 14-yard line. The Patriots went up 17-0 after Williams dumped a short screen pass to Wilson McCraw, who reached the end zone on the 6-yard reception.
Williams finished the evening completing 14-of-22 passes for 125 yards and two scores. He completed 11 of his first 12 but misfired on six straight after that. McGhee caught five balls for 33 yards and Trae Ausmer picked up 37 yards receiving on four grabs.
KeOnte Davis scored a 9-yard touchdown in the final minute of the third quarter to score the game’s final points. He led the Patriots on the ground with 27 yards on 12 carries.
Homewood gets back into Class 6A, Region 5 play next week, as the Patriots host Minor and first-year coach Adrian Abrams. Center Point will travel to Springville.
Click here to purchase photos from the game.
