If you like defense and penalties, Spanish Fort and Blount was for you.

The two Class 5A Region 1 rivals slugged it out all night, with Spanish Fort finding enough offense to claim a 16-0 win and remain undefeated in region play at 3-0 and 4-1 overall. Blount dropped to 1-2 in the region and 2-3 overall.

On the night, the 26 penalties called, unofficially, converted more than the 21 first downs the two teams combined to make.

Blount had 13 penalties for 95 yards, while 13 on the Toros went for 120 yards. There were as many touchdowns called back on penalties as were scored in the game, with each team having a big play wiped due to infractions.

Fittingly, the first score of the game was a safety when a snap flew over the Blount punter’s head into the end zone, where he booted it out of the end zone on the second play of the second quarter.

It followed a first quarter that saw only three first downs, with two of those courtesy of penalties.

The Blount possession leading to the safety started from its 20 after a free kick – a field goal formation in place of a punt – by Spanish Fort. From there, the Leopards ran the ball three times for five yards and the teams then swapped five-yard penalties before the ill-fated punt.

Before the Leopards could get off the free kick following the safety, they were penalized half the distance to the goal, twice, and had to kick from the five. Spanish Fort used the great ensuing field position to score a touchdown that counted.

Spanish Fort took over at its own 47, and quarterback J.J. Thibodeaux connected with Devin McKenzie for 54 yards with the PAT making the score 9-0. After the play, the Toros were hit with a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, enforced on the kickoff.

Blount’s best drive came at the end of the third quarter and into the early fourth, riding a wave of runs by Keevaughn Johnson to set up the Leopards at 1st-and-10 at the Toros' 14.

But on the next play, Ya’Lin Lee tackled Kaden Jones-Mills for a nine-yard loss on a reverse.

Quarterback Jaden Mills then scrambled and found Bryson Hall for an apparent 23-yard score, but Mills threw it while past the line of scrimmage, setting up an unsuccessful 38-yard field goal attempt.

Spanish Fort returned the favor on the next possession, as Thibodeaux raced 57 yards for a score that was brought back on a holding call, meaning the Toros still clung to a 9-0 lead.

Thibodeaux set up the game’s final score after the Toros took over on downs at the Leopards' 45 with the fourth quarter clock waning.

He rushed twice, netting 18 yards to the 26, and Lee took over from there by covering 26 yards on a sweep for the final 16-0 score.

Zachary Megie added PATs after both Toro touchdowns.

Primetime Performers

Lee for Spanish Fort was the only 100-yard rusher for the game, while Johnson for Blount wasn’t far behind with 94 yards.

Defining Moment

The safety gave the Toros all the points they’d need to win and the field position following the free kick led to the Toros’ first touchdown and a 9-0 lead at the half.

What’s next

Around the state, this is generally a bye week or a date for out of region play, and both of these teams will be idle.

Spanish Fort (4-1, 3-0) will welcome winless Murphy on Oct. 2 and Blount (2-3, 1-2) has Theodore in town on Oct. 2.