FORDYCE — Not long after Micah Gamble sprinted 85 yards for an offensive touchdown, the Fordyce sophomore had plenty of energy for a long interception return for another score.
Gamble stopped a long Hoxie drive with a 75-yard pick-6, one of two defensive scores for the Redbugs as the 3A-8 Conference champions took a 52-14 win Friday night in a state first-round playoff at Paul “Bear” Bryant Stadium. Fordyce will host either Palestine-Wheatley or Jessieville in the second round next Friday.
“I’ve been having down games, so Coach said I’ve got to pick it up,” Gamble said. “We just picked it up this game on both sides of the ball.”
The Redbugs (11-0) left no doubt about being a state championship favorite, scoring twice in its first 17 offensive plays. Before the Redbugs could take their first possession, Hoxie (4-7) was penalized four times for 30 yards on its first possession, and defensive end Vincent Stroud’s 10-yard interception return for a TD opened the scoring just 1:34 into the game.
Stroud also recovered a Hoxie fumble in the fourth quarter, ending the Mustangs’ final threat.
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Freshman quarterback Andreal Ellison Jr., nicknamed Cadillac, completed 9 of 13 passes for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns, 1 each to JaMartez Stroud (40 yards) and JaMarcus Cranford (13 yards) in the fourth quarter. Cranford also pulled down a diving, over-the-shoulder catch that extended the Redbugs’ first scoring drive.
“He’s grown up from the first game to where we are now,” Redbugs Coach Tim Rodgers said of Ellison. “He’s just getting better and better. Making some of those long passes were right on the money.”
After the Mustangs were stopped on downs on their second possession, Fordyce made it 14-0 at the 3:05 mark of the first quarter when Cranford’s 6-yard carry capped a 70-yard, 11-play drive.
Gamble rushed 85 yards down the Hoxie sideline on Fordyce’s first snap after a Hoxie punt with 11:03 left before halftime. Hoxie, using a quarterback and running back-by-committee of Prechton Wilkerson, Dillon Guthrie, Robert Martinez and Dylann Barnhill, had marched down to the Redbugs’ 21 before Gamble, playing linebacker and safety, took back Fordyce’s second pick 75 yards to make the score 30-0 with 4:12 left before the break.
“He’s one of those kids you can always count on,” Rodgers said. “He works hard, he practices hard, and he’s a great kid. It’s great to see people like that get rewarded in a ballgame.”
Hoxie had carried the ball on each play of that series before calling for a screen pass that Gamble picked off.
Brenton Sledge (two runs), Cranford (reception), Stroud (reception) and Ellison (run) scored 2-point conversions for the Redbugs. Cranford had 3 catches for 56 yards.
Hoxie recovered an onside kick to open the second half and built momentum from there with first-down runs by Wilkerson down to the Redbugs’ 14. Wilkerson finished it with a 1-yard carry and kicked the extra point at the 8:27 mark of the third period to end the shutout.
Wilkerson repeated the process with 7:08 left in the game to pull the Mustangs within 36-14.
Wilkerson carried 29 times for 125 yards, finishing his senior season with 1,382 yards and 14 touchdowns. Fordyce outgained Hoxie 292-254 in total yards, holding the Mustangs to 40 yards on 2-of-10 passing.
“That kind of surprised us they threw the ball a couple of times,” Rodgers said. “We had two interceptions returned for touchdowns. That’s what got us started in the first half.”
Fordyce quarterback Andreal Ellison Jr. carries the ball against Hoxie. (Special to The Commercial/William Harvey)
Fordyce defensive end Hayden Ford brings down Hoxie quarterback Robert Martinez. (Special to The Commercial/William Harvey)