By Austin Bishop
There were no surprises for Ackerman High School on Friday night and that was something Indians head football coach Adam Dillinger greatly appreciated.
His 12-0 team jumped out to a 20-0 first-quarter lead against a one-win Strayhorn team in the first round of the MHSAA Class 2A Playoffs on the way to an easy 41-7 victory.
"We wanted to come out and start fast and play well and we did," Dillinger said. "We thought if we could execute well at first we would be able to jump out on them and we did that."
Things get a little tougher for the No. 3-ranked Indians on Friday night as they play host to 10-1 Hollandale-Simmons on Friday night in the second round of the playoffs. The Blue Devils easily handled Walnut in their first-round game.
The only loss for Hollandale-Simmons came 16-9 at the hands of No. 1-ranked West Bolivar two weeks ago.
"They are fast and real athletic," Dillinger said of the Blue Devils. "They are well-coached and just an overall good football team."
But, the veteran coach said that's to be expected at this point in the season.
"You are going to play good football teams from here on out, so you better get after and play well," he said. "We have played them in the past in the playoffs, so there is some familiarity there."
It didn't take long for the Indians to get on the scoreboard against visiting Strayhorn, as John Cummings scored on a 16-yard run on his only carry of the night to put the winners up 7-0 after Nolan Long booted the point after.
Long then hauled in a 12-yard pass from Andrew Furr and K.J. Woods scored on a 50-yard run to put the winners up 20-0 after one quarter of play.
Cummings put the winners up 27-0 early in the second quarter when he scored on a 70-yard punt return and Cody Harris rounded out the first-half scoring on a 6-yard run.
Dakota Brasher hit Mannie Batts with a 45-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to make it 41-0 before Strayhorn scored on a 46-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Woods led Ackerman in rushing with 63 yards on four carries, while Furr hit on 3-of-7 passes for 54 yards, with Long making two catches for 46 yards.
