FHS makes history

Classic games usually have a name attached. Whether it's 'The Catch', 'The Pick' or the 'The Kick', the 2018 Flomaton Hurricanes moved into the record books Friday night in Pike County with what will be remembered as 'The Drive'.

Flomaton defeated Pike County 12-10 to advance to the semi-finals in football for the first time in school history which dates back 94 seasons. The Hurricanes will host Providence Christian this Friday night in Flomaton with a shot at the Class 3A state title Dec. 6, at Jordan-Hare Stadium on the campus of Auburn University.

Expect a packed house this Friday night in Flomaton. All tickets are $10 and no advance tickets will be sold. Gates will open at 5 p.m. A pep rally will be held at 2:20 p.m. Friday at the high school auditorium.

This past Friday night in Brundidge, the Hurricanes turned away a late threat to lose the lead and then mounted 'The Drive' to eat the final 5:33 off the clock.

“I couldn't be prouder of this team,” said Flomaton head coach Doug Vickery. “It was a hard-fought, physical football game against a very good Pike County football team.”

“We didn't play well in the first and third quarters but did really well in the second and the fourth,” Vickery said. “We just made too many mistakes in the first quarter. But the bottom line is our kids preservered and overcame.”

Vickery said 'The Drive' sums up the entire season that now has Flomaton sitting at 10-3 and a chance to defeat a 12-1 Providence team to advance to the state finals.

“We had to overcome a lot this season to get into this position,” Vickery said. “If we lose to T.R. Miller, we don't even make the playoffs. But our guys have stayed focused and fought on.”

“That drive sums up our entire season,” Vickery said. “We had to run the clock out. We had a touchdown called back and two holding penalties, but we did it.”

'The Drive' may have never happened if it wasn't for the Flomaton defense that gave the Hurricanes a chance.

Following a short punt by Flomaton leading 12-10 the Bulldogs took over at their own 49-yard line with 9:13 left in the game. Pike County had kicked a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter and needed a field goal or touchdown to take the lead.

Pike County's Derrick Myhand picked up a first down at the 30 and the Bulldogs converted on third and 3 to pick up another first down just inside the Flomaton 20-yard line with 7:29 left in the game.

An illegal motion penalty put Pike County in a first and 15 situation near the 25-yard line.

Flomaton's Jonathan Jones penetrated the Bulldog's offensive front to drop the running back for a loss back to the 31. Another illegal procedure call had the Bulldogs facing a third and 26 from the 36-yard line.

Flomaton's Da'Shun Odom then intercepted a pass and returned it to midfield, but an illegal block penalty on the Hurricanes forced them to begin the final drive from the Flomaton 29-yard line with 5:33 left in the game. 'The Drive' began.

Odom took the snap from behind center and picked up a first down at the 40. With Daquan Johnson behind center, Pike County was flagged for offsides and Flomaton faced a first and 5 at the 45 with 4:21 left in the game.

Johnson then picked up a first down at the Pike County 48-yard line with the clock running at 3:12.

After another Johnson first down, he picked up an apparent first down at the 20-yard line, only to see the play called back on a holding penalty, putting Flomaton in a first and 14 situation.

Flomaton was facing a second and 9 at the Pike County 35 with 1:34 left to play when the Bulldogs called timeout.

On third and 8, Johnson sprinted to the end zone, but another holding penalty against the Canes took the points off the board.

Flomaton was facing a fourth and 8 with 28.5 seconds left in the game when Coach Vickery called a timeout.

“I wasn't going to punt the ball because too many things can go wrong,” Vickery said.

Odom turned the corner on the first down play and Pike County was flagged for a facemask to put the ball at the Bulldogs's 13 yard line and the Hurricanes didn't have to run another play and confetti began pouring out of the Flomaton side of the stadium.

“That was the synopsis of our whole season,” Vickery said. “We made mistakes but were able to overcome them. Da'Shun and Daquan were both battling injuries but they willed the team to victory.”

Defensive struggle

Pike County received the opening kickoff Friday night on a muddy field and moved into Flomaton territory before a penalty put the Bulldogs back to their own 41.

Flomaton's Quincie McCall intercepted a pass and the Hurricanes were in business at the Pike County 45-yard line. The drive stalled and Evan Tatum's punt went into the end zone to give Pike County the ball at its own 20-yard line.

Pike County cracked the scoreboard first on a 28-yard field goal by Julius Allen and the Bulldogs had the early 3-0 lead with 9:19 left in the second quarter.

Flomaton turned the ball over on a fumble on its next possession but the Hurricanes returned the favor when Micah Boyette recovered a Bulldog fumble and Flomaton took over at its own 48.

A pass interference call against the Bulldogs moved Flomaton to the Pike County 37 and after picking up a first down, Johnson hit McCall on a 12-yard touchdown pass. A two-point try failed, but with 4:02 left in the first half, Flomaton led 6-3.

The Hurricanes then recovered an onsides kick and Flomaton was back in business with a first down at the Pike County 45-yard line.

After Johnson picked up a first down at the 14 he then scored from 9 yards out. Another two-point try by Flomaton failed but with 3:06 left in the half, Flomaton led 12-3, which is how the first half ended.

Flomaton received in the second half and behind Devonta Bradley and Johnson was able to move to the Pike County 35 yard line. A holding penalty killed the threat and the Canes ended up punting into the end zone.

After moving to a first down at its own 31, Myhand broke free for a 59-yard touchdown run. Allen added the PAT and with 6:52 left in the third, Flomaton's lead had been cut to 12-10, which is how the third quarter ended.

Defenses took over in the fourth quarter which eventually led to the key Flomaton stop and then 'The Drive' to capture the 12-10 victory.

Despite setting history, Coach Vickery said his team knows there is unfinished business to take care of that begins Friday night when Providence Christian makes the trip from Dothan to Flomaton.

“It means a lot to come home,” Vickery said. “I feel like it gives us an advantage. It's tough to go on the road, especially so far, because you get out of your routine.”

He said he expects another fight this Friday night in Flomaton.

“They've got a good football team, obviously because they are in the semi-finals,” Vickery said. “We don't need to worry about them, we need to cut down on our mistakes and play the way we are capable of playing.”

Vickery also said the fact that Providence Christian's only loss of the season came on Oct. 5 against Pike County has nothing to do with Friday night's game.

“They'll come ready to play and we'll come ready to play,” he said.