MBA Opens 2006 Season with Bowl Victory

Montgomery Bell Academy began the 108th year of Big Red football with a 24-7 victory on Friday August 18th in the BB&T Bowl against Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Big Red defense came out firing on all cylinders as they forced Dunbar to punt on their first series. Junior safety, Jas Radar, returned the ensuing punt 73 yards for an early 7-0 MBA lead. Following another Dunbar punt on their second series, the Big Red offense capitalized on great field position and scored on their first drive of the season behind the combination of senior quarterback David Howe and senior receiver Charlie Plageman along with the tough running of junior Christian Waddey to take a 14-0 first quarter lead. Dunbar High School, which was ranked #8 in the state in preseason polls, fought back to make it a 14-7 MBA lead at halftime.

In the second half the two teams exchanged punts until Swan Burrus recovered a muffed Dunbar punt allowing senior Clayton Foster to connect on a 35 yard field goal pushing the Big Red lead to 17-7 in the fourth quarter. The MBA defense, led by senior defensive linemen Ben Daniel and Guy McClure as well as junior safety Nathan Wade, was able to withstand one last Dunbar drive and give the ball to the offense for one final touchdown drive that was aided by the running of sophomore Patrick Crum and punctuated by Christian Waddey's second touchdown run to secure the victory.

MBA will travel to Kentucky again on Saturday August 26th to face the defending 4A Kentucky State Champion Trinity Shamrocks. The Big Red will look push their record to 3-1 against the Louisville powerhouse. Please come out and support the Big Red as they look to stay undefeated in Kentucky in 2006!