Keith Bears and Johnson Eagles field their youngest players for matchup on Oct. 6

The Keith High Bears in Orrville, Dallas County, scored a 41-0 win over A.L. Johnson of Thomaston in Marengo County Friday night Oct. 6, 2023, in a competition between the youngest players from both teams.

Johnson, the fifth smallest high school in Alabama, had a roster of only about 15 players due to a small pipeline and injuries, said coach Migeual Catlin after the game.

That meant most players from Johnson played every snap. Because of that, the teams ended the game in the third quarter and Keith agreed to play their younger players to give them experience and match skills better.

Keith Coach Anthony Lumpkin said he was glad to give the younger players in seventh through ninth grades good playing time and give the more experienced players a break. It was an “emotional” moment when a hard-working seventh grader Demestress Reese scored the last touchdown of the night, Lumpkin said.

“He works hard at practice and never complains, so it was great to be able to reward him,” Lumpkin said. “It was an emotional moment for me.”

When Reese ran back to the sidelines, older players twice his size patted his helmet and he beelined for the fence to high-five fans.

Catlin said Johnson’s players competed well against a strong Keith team and “played hard.” His team is 58% seventh and eighth graders with only four seniors and no ninth graders. This season’s team is young, he said, but “the future looks bright."

Keith dominated the scoreboard all night on offense, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter to put the score at 20-0. Johnson pushed toward the red zone several times without success.

Keith gave Johnson a few chances with two fumbles. But the Eagles couldn’t get past the Bears’ defense.

Keith also made two interceptions, taking the ball from Johnson when they were making progress, including with 3:50 left in the second quarter when Johnson was at the Bears' 25 yard line. The Bears scored after the first interception and went to halftime with a score of 33-0. The second interception happened in the third quarter at 6:26, and it also led to a touchdown to bring the score to 41-0.