BEULAH — The Beulah Bobcats ran their record to 2-0 on the young season with a dominating 56-0 win over the Ellwood Christian Eagles. The impressive win sets up a big game on the road next Friday at Montgomery Academy.

There was very little the coaches could find fault with in a very easy win over a clearly overmatched opponent. Senior running back Chris Person had another outstanding game running the football, junior quarterback Kaleb Abney ran the offense extremely well and the Bobcat line play was in command throughout.

The defense set the tone of the game on Ellwood’s opening possession. The Eagles fumbled it away on the second play of the game with defensive lineman Chandler Lynch recovering for Beulah at the Ellwood 20. From there, it took Beulah only three plays to find the end zone.

Person raced through a big hole off the right side of the line to score from three yards out. Jaden Buffington was perfect on the PAT, and with 10:16 left in the first quarter, the Bobcats held a 7-0 lead.

On Ellwood’s first four plays from scrimmage, the Eagles called two time outs, got a delay of game penalty and fumbled away the football. Their second possession ended with a punt on fourth and 20. Beulah took over on the Eagle 25 and quickly made the end zone, this time through the air. On first down, Abney passed to Okhari Moore for a first down on the 15 and on the next play found sophomore tight end Tae Paige wide open in the right flat. Paige raced untouched to the end zone, and just like that the Bobcats had a two-score lead. Buffington’s second straight PAT made it 14-0 in favor of Beulah with 6:51 left in the first quarter.

It was more of the same for Ellwood on its next possession. The Eagles attempted to punt on fourth and ten. The punter had trouble fielding the snap and took off to the left trying to make the first down. He was tackled by Beulah’s Billy Wayne Sykes at the 18, setting up the Bobcat offense in great field position. A roughing the passer penalty against the Eagles moved the ball inside the ten, and on a second and goal play from the two, Person blasted off right guard for his second TD of the game. Buffington’s PAT was true, and with 4:11 left in the first quarter, the Bobcat lead had grown to 21-0.

Moments later it grew to 28-0 following Sherman Smith’s interception and return to the Ellwood 10. This time Person scored from one yard out. Buffington’s fourth straight PAT made it 28-0 with 1:34 left in the opening period.

The visitors from Selma did manage to convert a first down in the final seconds of the first quarter. They made back to back first downs in fact, before fumbling it away again with Billy Wayne Sykes claiming the ball for the Bobcats at the Beulah 48.

On the very next play, Abney connected with Andruw Coxwell on a 52-yard scoring pass. Bufflington’s fifth straight PAT made it 35-0 Beulah with 10:52 left before halftime.

The big lead allowed Beulah coaches to substitute liberally and give the younger players some playing time. The Eagles were able to move the ball some but couldn’t dent the end zone. Beulah got one more score before halftime on an impressive 46-yard run off the left side of the line by sophomore running back Jeremy Conway. Buffington went six for six with his kicks to make it 42-0 with 6:51 to play in the half.

The Bobcats added two more second half scores to make the final score 56-0.

The coaches were pleased by the fact the team had no turnovers and committed one penalty for five yards.  The Bobcats had 265 yards rushing and six touchdowns for the game. Abney was four for seven for 87 yards and two TDs. 

The defense limited Ellwood to 106 yards of total offense. Cooper led the team in tackles with six, Hancock had four, Smith four tackles and an interception and Moore had three tackles.