If tough hardnosed football is to your liking, St. Stephens High was the place to be Friday night.
Alexander Central survived the cold, rain and a very determined Indians' team, to remain unbeaten with a 14-7 win.
The two teams battled tooth and nail until the closing minutes before this one was decided.
"St. Stephens is a very tough football team," said Alexander Central head coach Tom Harper. "They are the best 3-6 football team I've seen in a long time. Tonight out defense really picked it up when they had to and that made the difference. That's the sign of a good football team."
The Cougars improved to 8-0 on the season and 3-0 in the Northwestern 3A-4A Conference, one-half game behind Hibriten, who is 4-0 after defeating South Caldwell 42-13 on Friday.
St. Stephens falls to 3-6 and 1-3.
The Indians took the lead with just under four minutes left in the opening quarter on a 61-yard pass from quarterback Tanner Miller to Jeff Ellis for a 7-0 lead after Keith Cooper's PAT.
Alexander Central came right back, marching 80 yards in 14 plays to score on a 25-yard burst by quarterback Kyle Kinaird to knot the game at 7-all after Matt Brown's extra point kick. The big play in the drive happened with the Cougars facing fourth-and-four at their own 45-yard line. St. Stephens was charge with running into the punter and was penalized five yards giving the Cougars a first down to keep the drive alive.
The Cougars took the lead with 8:07 left in the third quarter when Kinnaird found a wide-open Zach Bumgarner for a 53-yard catch and run for a 14-7 advantage.
After an exchange of possessions, the Indians mounted a drive of their own as Miller hooked up with Ellis for a 33 yard reception and later found Tyler Bjerg on a crossing pattern and Bjerg ran it in for an apparent touchdown, but the play was nullified due to holding pushing the Indians back and forcing them to punt.
St. Stephens defense gave the offense several other opportunities, but the Indians couldn't capitalize.
St. Stephens' final possession ended on a fourth-and-two play where Miller optioned the ball to Antonio Sherrill who was shoved out of bounds for a two-yard loss on the play by Josh Mecimore.
Alexander Central took over and ran out the clock.
"We're playing our butts off right now," said St. Stephens' head coach Fred Whalen. "We just can't get the breaks we need and then we get some penalties that turn into bad opportunities. Alexander has been there in the past and has gotten that turned around. Hopefully we will be able to do that to."
Alexander Central quarterback Kinnaird finished the game with 23 carries for 129 yards and a rushing touchdown and completed 9-of-14 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown.
"Kyle is a tough young man that wants the ball when the games on the line," Harper said. "He just loves to play the game and loves this team. He deserves all the accolades he can get."
St. Stephens' quarterback Miller completed 9-of-16 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown, while Ellis was on the receiving end of four of those passes for 122 yards and a score.
"Their quarterback played well," Harper said. "Our defense just stepped it up when they had to. Our offense sputtered a little bit, I wished they hadn't, but I think when I watch film, I'll see some things that we didn't do right up front. But the bottom line is were 8-0 and we won and I don't care if it's an ugly win, but we'll take it."
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