Leake Academy improves to 4-0 with district victory
The Leake Academy Rebels took a 37-20 district win over Hartfield Friday night in prep football action.
It was another big victory for the Rebels who improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the district. It was Hartfield’s first loss of the season. The Hawks now stand at 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the district.
“I’m really proud of our kids and their mental attitude through it all,” Coach Brian Pickens said. “This group is very competitive. They believe in themselves and they are playing hard.
“Hartfield was another tough district rival. Our defense did such an outstanding job the first part of the game. We caused two turnovers and had two interceptions. They gave us great field position and we took advantage of it.”
Leake Academy went up 20-0 in the first quarter. Quarterback Rhett Atkinson scored on a 12-yard run. The extra point kick was no good and the Rebels led 6-0 with less than a minute gone in the first quarter.
The Rebels scored again with 3:59 left when Canon Parks ran into the end zone for one yard out. Cole Arthur kicked the extra point and Leake Academy led 13-0.
Later in the quarter, Atkinson connected with Levi Brown on a 21-yard pass play. Arthur kicked the extra point and Leake Academy led 20-0 at the end of the quarter.
Atkinson threw another touchdown pass in the second quarter when he connected with Riley Myers on a 46-yard TD pass play. Arthur’s kick was good and the Rebels led 27-0 with 9:08 left in the second quarter.
Hartfield put three touchdowns on the scoreboard before the half.
Xavier Davis scored on a one-yard run and Cruz Garner completed a TD pass to Ross James, The Hawks kicked the extra point and then failed to convert on a two-point conversion. Then just before the half, Davis scored again on a one-yard run. The try for two failed and Leake Academy led 27-20 at the half.
Hartfield Academy did not score again. Meanwhile, Whitt Welch scored on a two-yard run with 7:01 left in the third quarter. Arthur’s kick was good and the Rebels led 34-20 with 7:01 left in the third quarter. Arthur kicked a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to end the scoring.
Leake Academy finished with 355 total yards and 21 first downs. The Rebels rushed 49 times for 231 yards, and completed 6-of-8 passing attempts for 124 yards. The Rebels were penalized seven times for 70 yards. They lost one fumble.
Hartfield had 258 total yards and 14 first downs. The Hawks rushed 28 times for 234 yards and completed 1-of-9 passes for 24 yards. They were penalized five times for 50 yards and were intercepted three times.
Parks was the leading rusher for Leake Academy with 82 yards on 17 carries. Welch picked up 78 yards on 19 carries, and Atkinson ran for 70 yards on 13 carries. He had all Leake Academy’s passing yards, giving him 194 total yards.
Myers had one catch for 46 yards. Thomas Cheatham had two catches on 37 yards. Brown had one catch for 21 yards and Aiden Watkins had one catch for 19 yards.
Jake Brown had two interceptions and Cheatham had one. Jarrett Watkins had seven tackles while Kade Marble and Parker Thomas had six.