After building a 17-0 lead the No. 9-ranked Calera Eagles had to hold off Keith for a 17-14 win to remain undefeated on the season.

Both of Keith’s scores in the fourth quarter came off turnovers. The last came when Calera quarterback Jay Haynes scrambled and lost 35 yards and the ball. A Keith defender fell on the ball in the end zone for the score.

&uot;We just made some mental mistakes we have not been making this year,&uot; Calera head coach Ken Adams said. &uot;Jay was just trying to make a play. He scrambles a lot of times and makes those plays 95 percent of the time.&uot;

Adams faulted himself in the Eagles’ fourth quarter collapse and his team’s performance overall last Friday night.

&uot;I didn’t do a good job of getting them prepared and it showed,&uot; Adams said. &uot;I have to see how the kids’ focus is during the week and I can’t allow them to get unfocused on the game ahead.&uot;

Although Keith came into the contest with just one win on the season, Adams said the team the Eagles played Friday night was not at all a bad team.

&uot;I had been telling people all week long that they were a good team,&uot; Adams said, &uot; and they didn’t believe me. They were the biggest and the fastest team we have played all season. They only run a few plays, but they execute them well. That’s the sign of a good football team.&uot;

As for the Haynes fumble, Adams said he nor Haynes nor the team was letting it get to them.

&uot;Jay Haynes has been our quarterback, he is our quarterback and he will be our quarterback,&uot; Adams said. &uot;We put the ball in his hands 100 percent of the plays we run and he made one mistake trying to make a play. In fact we have been kidding him all week about it to try and lighten the mood.&uot;

Adams said his team was going to line up in a different formation this week. &uot;We are going to put a tailback 15 yards behind Jay and tell him, ‘If Jay runs past you, tackle him,’&uot; Adams said laughing.

John Adams led the offense for the Eagles with 81 yards rushing and a touchdown. Gary Goggins got the Eagles on the board first with a field goal in the first quarter. Cory Merritte upped the Eagles’ lead with a 25-yard scoring reception from Haynes. The PAT failed, leaving the score at 9-0 at the half.

John Adams scored from 1 yard out in the third quarter and a 2-point conversion made the score 17-0 heading into the fourth quarter.

Keith got both scores in the fourth to make the final 17-14.

Adams commended the play of his defensive front.

&uot;Tim Baker, Andy Jones, Goggins, Adam Cunningham, Scott Hall, Joey Glass and everyone who played on the defensive front controlled the line of scrimmage all night,&uot; Adams said.

Calera will next play host to Highland Home in a Class 2A regional matchup Friday night.

The Flying Squadron are coming off an 81-0 whipping of R.C. Hatch.

Adams said his team will have to bring its best game to win Friday night.

&uot;We have to execute on what we already do,&uot; Adams said. &uot;We’re not going to add anything &045; we’re just going to stick with what got us here. Teams the last two weeks have played outside-conscious on us and our fullbacks have run the ball effectively between the tackles. When the defense starts concentrating on that, then we can take advantage of the outside again.&uot;

Adams said Highland Home has a very talented squad.

&uot;They have lost only one game all year,&uot; Adams said. &uot;They have a lot of team speed and they run a lot of sets. They have a good quarterback and a 230-pound fullback who is a great athlete. We have to play solid on defense and control the line of scrimmage. The defensive line has to stop the run and the secondary has to play the best game they’ve played all year.&uot;

As for the homecoming win last Friday night, Adams said it took a .lot of pressure off his team.

&uot;All I have been hearing all week is how lucky we are,&uot; Adams said. &uot;Well, I’ll take the luck if it means a win for these kids. Whether it’s 17-0 or 17-14 at the end of the game doesn’t matter. The win put us in the playoffs. We would like homefield advantage, but the pressure is off as far as us making the playoffs.

Adams also said he hopes a big crowd will be in attendance Friday night.

&uot;We had a huge crowd last Friday night and we hope it’s the same again this week,&uot; Adams said. &uot;It really boosts the confidence of the team when they look into the stands and it’s packed and everyone is screaming.&uot;