Mobile Christian Beats SSC Rocks 50-19

The loss dropped the Rocks to 2-3 overall while the Leopards improved to 5-1 on the season. The win also gave the Leopards a 2-1 advantage in the young series between the schools.

The two teams battled to a 0-0 tie through the first quarter. As time expired in the first quarter, the Rocks were intercepted at midfield by the Leopards. On the fourth play of the ensuing drive, Mobile Christian scored on a 25-yard scoring toss with 9:33 left to play in the half. The PAT was good pushing the score to 7-0.

The Rocks mounted a nine-play drive that started with a 24-yard toss from Max Bernard to Adam Oliver and ended with a 37-yard field goal by Jude Babin with 7:19 left in the half to make the score 7-3.

Following Babin’s touchback, the Leopards were swallowed up by Sal Riccardi and the Rock defense as they forced a team safety with 6:24 left in the half to make the score 7-5.

The Rocks received the following kickoff and went 72 yards in seven plays. Jaxen Halferty ripped off 11 yards followed by a 24-yard pass to Oliver. Two plays later, Bernard found Lex Rhodes for a 29-yard gain before Bernard scored on a one-yard dive with 4:31 left in the half. Babin’s PAT made the score 12-7 at intermission.

During the halftime festivities, Nina Bradford was crowned the 2026 Homecoming Queen.

The Rocks opened the second half of play on offense and proceeded to go 65 yards in 11 plays to the endzone. Bernard found Rhodes for 13 yards followed two big rushes from Halferty covering 16 and 12 yards. The drive culminated with a three-yard jump-toss to Brick Compretta from Bernard with 5:59 left in the third quarter. Babin’s PAT made the score 19-7.

The Leopards pinned the Rocks deep at their own 16-yard line following their ensuing drive. Faced with a fourth-and-long from their own 24-yard line, the Rocks gambled and failed to reach the line to gain turning the ball over on downs.

Mobile Christian scored four plays later on a two-yard run. The PAT made the score 19-14.

Miscues and mistakes cost the Rocks the rest of the way in the game. The Leopards scored on a one-play drive that was a 70-yard aerial with 9:31 left in the final quarter. The two-point conversion made the score 22-19.

On the ensuing drive, the Rocks were intercepted at their own 36-yard line and the ball was returned for a touchdown with 9:19 left to play. The PAT made the score 29-19.

The Leopards held firm on defense and got the ball back near midfield. Eight plays later, the Leopards scored on a one-yard dive with 5:01 left to play. The PAT made the score 36-19.

Another interception by the Rocks gave the Leopards the ball deep in Rock territory. Mobile Christian scored on a 12-yard scoring toss with 3:31 left to play. The PAT made the score 43-19.

After driving into Leopard territory on the ensuing possession, the Rocks tossed another pick-six that went for 71 yards with 1:11 left to play. The PAT made the final score 50-19.

SSC head coach Evan Gay commented, “I take full responsibility on the gamble on fourth down in the second half. The call allowed Mobile Christian to steal the momentum, and we were not able to get it back. We have to go on the road this week to Stone and the story of the week will be overcoming adversity. The bright spot of the game for us was we found our running game and Jaxen Halferty had a solid game running the football. We have to be able to continue that momentum this week.”

Adam Oliver caught seven passes for 92 yards while Halferty rushed for 101 yards on 16 carries. On defense, the Rocks were led by Nico Barvie, Sal Riccardi, and Jackson Wood all with eight tackles in the game.

This week the Rocks traveled to Stone on Thursday night to play ahead of inclement weather coming into the area for the weekend. The Tomcats hold a 5-2 advantage in the short series with SSC. The Rocks’ last win in the series came in 2023 and SSC lost 42-7 to Stone last year. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.