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The Calera Eagles came up just short of topping the Stanhope Elmore Mustangs in a hard-fought effort to close out the 2024 season. (For the Reporter/Jeremy Raines)

By SCOTT MIMS | Special to the Reporter

CALERA — Time ran out in heartbreaking fashion as the Calera Eagles lost their final game of the season at home on Nov. 1 to the Stanhope Elmore Mustangs, 35-32, despite some turnovers and first downs in the Eagles’ favor late in the game.

Calera coach Scott Rials said he was proud of his players and coaches despite the outcome.

“We competed hard, we played hard,” Rials said. “We had a few turnovers that hurt us. It’s just one of those games where I wish we had come out on top, but it’s not for lack of effort and determination from our players and coaches. It was just a play or two, like it usually is in tight games, that ends up determining the outcome.”

The Eagles struck first as AJ Johnson connected with Cameron Hagler through the air with 3:39 in the first.

Then, Stanhope made its way down to the Calera 2-yard line and the Eagles recovered a fumble—however, a tipped pass and the resulting pick six tied the game with 1:33 remaining.

A 51-yard pass from Johnson to Hagler created new momentum early in the second, but a costly foul held the Eagles to a field goal, making it 10-7 with 8:13 on the clock.

Stanhope Elmore recovered an attempted Calera onside kick and missed a field goal opportunity; however, the Mustangs recovered an Eagles fumble and scored on a rushing touchdown with 1:10 left in the half, regaining the lead at 14-10.

The Eagles battled against the clock and made their way to the Stanhope Elmore 16, where they found themselves facing a fourth-and-1 with no timeouts. But another touchdown pass to Hagler put Calera on top, 17-14, with only 12 seconds remaining before halftime.

Stanhope drove down the field and scored with 9:48 left in the third quarter, reclaiming the lead once again at 21-17.

Calera wasted no time answering as Johnson bolted across the goal line with 7:37 remaining, tipping the scales to the Eagles once again, 24-21.

The back-and-forth continued as Stanhope responded right back with another touchdown drive at 4:42.

Then, a tipped pass from Johnson was picked off by the Mustangs who capitalized on the next play to extend their lead to 35-24 with 4:26 left in the third quarter.

Following a couple of false starts, Calera found itself at fourth-and-long, but Johnson picked up some big yardage on a run. A targeting call put them at the Stanhope 9.

Then, they scored on a pass across the middle to KD Young, and the 2-point conversion was good on a reverse play to Hagler. It was 35-32 Stanhope with 10:02 left in the game.

Calera recovered a fumble with 5:54 on the clock and made their way to the Stanhope 3-yard line. On a quarterback keeper down the visiting side, a hard hit took Johnson out of the game, but he was able to walk to the sideline.

He re-entered the game on fourth down, but the pass was incomplete and the Mustangs took over at their own 4-yard line.

Johnson finished the game 25-of-44 for 156 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while also rushing for a team-high 88 yards and a score off 12 carries.

Hagler was Johnson’s top receiver with six catches for 109 yards. DJ Haynes caught six passes for 52 yards and Braxton Brooks earned 32 yards off four receptions.

Davis had four catches for 26 cards and Young secured four catches for 23 yards and a touchdown.

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