Allen Creasy was a little apprehensive about letting his team wear black-on-black against cross-county rival East Limestone.

The last couple of times Athens sported the all black look, they didn’t play well. Friday night, the Golden Eagles turned luck around as they defeated the Indians 48-16 in a Class 5A, Region 8 matchup.

“The players had been asking since spring training to wear all black for this game,” Creasy said. “We hadn’t played very well in them in the past, but the final decision was made because they’re the ones playing, they’re the ones it’s really about and that’s what they wanted.”

East struck first on a 32-yard field goal by Grant Talbert at the 2:05 mark for a 3-0 lead.

Athens quickly answered at the start of the second quarter as quarterback Stephen Rivers hit Chris Cain with a 51-yard pass. Armand Hunt’s extra point was no good for a 6-3 lead. Two plays later, Athens’ Hunter Lambert picked off a Manley Carpenter pass on the East Limestone 26-yard line and returned it for a touchdown. Hunt’s extra point was good.

Bruce Boydstun narrowed the lead with 6:43 remaining before the half on a 2-yard run. Talbert’s extra point was no good. The Golden Eagles scored twice more before heading into the locker room on a 48-yard pass from Rivers to Julius Jones and a 25-yard pass from Rivers to Cain putting Athens up 27-9.

“It’s a big win anytime you have a rivalry,” Creasy said “East Limestone is tough. They’re a very physical team, they’re going to bring it at you every single play and they didn’t disappoint us.”

East Limestone’s only other score of the game came in the third quarter on a 4-yard run by Devin Robinson. Talbert’s point after attempt was good.