MRA falls in semifinals to Hartfield Academy
MRA saw their season come to an end in a 17-14 loss to Hartfield Academy in the MAIS 6A semifinals on Friday night, finishing 9-3 on the season.
“This team played hard and did everything we asked them to do,” MRA Head Coach Herbert Davis said. “It was a heck of a game, we just didn’t do enough to finish the game tonight.”
The Patriots won the first matchup between the two teams in a 44-35 shootout and it was a completely different type of game in the rematch on Friday night, which ended up being a defensive slugfest.
MRA has typically been known for their dynamic offense this season, but it was the defense that stepped up in a big way in this one and gave the Patriots a chance until the very end.
“Our defense did a great job and gave us a chance tonight,” Davis said. “We got shutout for almost three quarters, which is not like us, but we just missed opportunities in the redzone.”
MRA scored all of their points in the first half of this one, with DJ Watkins and AJ Parker tallying rushing touchdowns. The Patriots took a 14-10 lead into halftime and looked to have momentum going into the second half.
The only touchdown of the second half for either team came on a rushing touchdown for Kenzy West, who scored both touchdowns on the night for Hartfield Academy.
The Patriots had a chance to tie the game with a field goal with 2:47 left, but missed it wide left and were unable to stop the Hartfield Academy offense, who ran out the clock from there.
MRA was just unable to capitalize on multiple opportunities inside the redzone, which proved to be the difference in this one.
“We just didn’t finish in the scoring zone tonight, I don’t know how many times, and that was the difference in the game,” Davis said. “Not being able to capitalize on those opportunities is what beat us.”
While the Patriots will have plenty of talent coming back next year, the impact that the seniors for this MRA team had on the program cannot be overstated.
“This senior group is just full of great character and did everything we asked of them during their time here,” Davis said. “It’s a great group of kids and just a super senior group that we have had here.”