HAT TRICK: Aaron Johns scores 3 TDs as Dawgs maul Panthers 34-2
“The third week is when Todd’s offense starts coming together.”
Central Alabama head coach Jesse Reed should know, having played under offensive coordinator Todd Pelkey for two previous seasons before bringing him on board to call plays for the nascent Devil Dawgs.
And come together it did, behind the three-touchdown hat trick by running back Aaron Johns, as the Dawgs pummeled visiting Memphis by a 34-2 score in Premier South Football League action Saturday at Corner High.
Johns scored on the game’s very first play from scrimmage, dashing 73 yards for the score. He then added touchdown runs of 13 and 11 yards, and finished the game with 137 yards rushing. It’s his third straight 100-yard game, with an average so far of 127.7 yards per contest.
“A.J. is just fantastic — what else can you say?” Reed said afterward.
The Dawgs (3-0) dominated the Panthers (0-2) from the start, stopping the Memphis offense on two long possessions in the first half.
Central quarterback Chris Coach, who swapped with Justin Craig at wide receiver, had a bit of a shaky start as he threw two interceptions in the first half. But Coach got his act together after halftime, as he struck immediately after a Darian Payne interception, finding a hole and streaking 52 yards for a touchdown.
Coach later connected with Jeremy Hallmon for a 14-yard TD pass.
The Dawgs looked as if they had secured a shutout when they held Memphis with a goal-line defense just before the two-minute warning. But on the ensuing possession, the Panthers tackled Darryl Harris just inside the goal line for a safety.
Coach was 5-for-11 with two interceptions for 75 yards in his debut.
“I love the guy because he’ll do anything you ask,” Reed said of Coach. “He’d play nose guard if I asked him to.”
The Devil Dawgs travel to Huntsville to play the unbeaten Rocket City Titans on Saturday.
| Memphis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — 2 |
| Central Ala. | 7 | 7 | 14 | 6 | — 34 |
Scoring summary
CA-Aaron Johns, 73 run (Justin Madison kick)
CA-Johns, 13 run (Madison kick)
CA-Johns, 11 run (kick failed)
CA-Chris Coach, 52 run (Darryl Harris run)
CA-Jeremy Hamilton, 14 pass from Coach (kick failed)
MEM-Safety, Harris tackled in end zone
Team statistics
| MEM | CA | |
| First downs | 13 | 13 |
| Rushes-yards | 22-51 | 24-232 |
| Comp.-att.-int. | 15-38-1 | 5-11-2 |
| Passing yards | 152 | 75 |
| Total offense | 203 | 307 |
| Fumbles-lost | 1-1 | 4-1 |
| Punts-average | 4-18.3 | 1-31.0 |
| Penalties-yards | 9-62 | 11-92 |
Individual statistics
Rushing: (CA) Johns, 12-137, 3 TD; (Mem) Eric Brent 1-19.
Passing: (CA) Coach 5-11-2, 75 yds., TD.
Receiving: (CA) Darwin Salaam 2-50; Hamilton 1-14, TD.