By Jeff Devine
Class 2A’s fourth-ranked Ariton Purple Cats relied on a dominant ground game from Jacarrie Hammock and Wells Ganey, along with efficient passing from Addison Senn, to defeat No. 10 Providence Christian 28-15 Friday night at Dr. Robert Zumstein Stadium in Ariton.
The win keeps Ariton perfect on the season at 5-0 overall and places them alone at the top of Region 2 with a 4-0 record. Providence Christian dropped to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in region competition.
Hammock led the Purple Cats’ rushing attack with 103 yards and a touchdown on just six carries, while Ganey added 77 yards and three scores on 17 carries, helping Ariton rack up 238 total rushing yards. Senn also contributed on the ground with 56 yards on 12 carries and was sharp through the air, completing 8 of 11 passes for 144 yards. Through the air, Ganey caught two passes for 47 yards, and Tate Kilcrease added two receptions for 22 yards.
On defense, Gabe Jones anchored the unit with 13 tackles, including three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Ganey also stood out defensively with 10 tackles, two for loss, while Kilcrease added nine tackles, also with two for loss.
The balanced effort on both sides of the ball helped Ariton maintain its perfect start and solidify its standing among the top teams in Class 2A.
