Sports - High School

Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Allen, Polk lead Gators past Yellow Jackets

ST. MARTIN — Gautier took it to St. Martin from the onset in a crucial Region 4-5A game Friday night.

Adonis Polk shocked the Yellow Jackets and the St. Martin home crowd at Joe F. Barlow Stadium when he broke free for an 81-yard touchdown on the first play, and the Gators chewed up 226 yards on the ground en route to a 20-6 victory.

Gautier, which improved to 7-3 overall and 5-1 in 4-5A, will host Moss Point next Friday with the 4-5A title going to the winner.

“We felt it would come down to this the whole time,” Gautier coach Arlton Hudson said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for our team. It should be a tremendous atmosphere next week at home.”

St. Martin (4-6, 3-3) still controls its own destiny, as far as the playoffs are concerned. The ‘Jackets, who have dropped three in a row, host D’Iberville next Friday and St. Martin will make the playoffs with a win.

The ‘Jackets were held to 155 yards of total offense, but senior Taylor Morris was a bright spot with 67 yards rushing on eight carries.

“We didn’t execute,” Morris said. “We came out a little flat and that hurt us. The second half we stepped it up a little.”

After Gautier’s fast start, it was too late for the Yellow Jackets.

Behind a superb effort from the offensive line, which was led by Daniel and Mykhael Quave, the Gators were explosive on the ground in the first half.

“Our running backs played well all night long,” Hudson said. “We felt we could come in here and overpower them on the line of scrimmage.”

Senior Joel Allen led the way with 118 yards rushing on eight carries, including a 68-yard TD run. Polk had 77 yards on four tries and Ryan Driver added 30 yards on nine carries.

“The offensive line did a great job,” Allen said. “It was important for us to start fast, and the offensive line opening the holes so we could do our job.”

Gautier took command on the game’s first play from scrimmage.

Polk took a handoff from Travonta Thomas, skirted around right end then weaved his way through the St. Martin secondary. He sprinted the final part of his 81-yard run to put the Gators up 7-0.

It was a sign of things to come in the first half, which Gautier dominated. The Gators had 201 yards rushing and held the Yellow Jackets to 52 yards on the ground and 73 yards total offense at the half.

Allen’s 4-yard run on the first play of the second period capped a five-play, 37-yard drive and put Gautier up 14-0, following Jacob Johnson’s second extra point.

Polk’s 41-yard punt return got the Gators in gear on their second scoring drive.

Allen took care of the Gator’s next possession single-handedly when he dashed 68 yards up the middle to make it 20-0 with 8:18 left in the half.

The ‘Jackets had a chance to score just before the half. In fact, Eugene Walton scored on a 7-yard run with just under a minute left.

But Gautier had called timeout just before the snap.

When St. Martin ran the fourth-and-4 play from the 7-yard line, Walton pitched behind the running back for a fumble to end the threat.

The ‘Jackets played better in the second half and scored on Walton’s 4-yard run to make it 20-6 with 10:24 left. Devlin Pond’s fumble recovery on a punt return set up the touchdown.