By Staff
Stephen Moore, Franklin County Times
PHIL CAMPBELL – Red Bay's multi-talented Pablo Makepeace led his team to a 29-7 victory over Phil Campbell in a clashing of county rivals Friday night.
"It wasn't pretty – we had way too many penalties, and we just weren't as game-ready mentally as we should have been," said Red Bay coach Dale Jeffreys. "But 2-0 is still 2-0, and I'm proud of them for winning. Pablo fired us up when we needed it, and the team came together."
Makepeace, a senior wide receiver, rushed for 204 yards and a touchdown, returned a kickoff for a score, kicked a field goal and made an interception.
Red Bay received the opening kick-off in the very humid atmosphere of Parrish Stadium. The initial drive bogged down with an improper equipment penalty and a tenacious Bobcats defense.
Phil Campbell failed to generate much offense in turn, ending their drive with a booming punt to Makepeace, who returned the ball 80 yards for the game's first score. Makepeace's PAT put Red Bay ahead 7-0 with 6:20 left in the opening quarter.
Red Bay's Josh Senkbeil began grinding out ground yards to set up a Horton-to-Makepeace pass that put the visiting team inside Phil Campbell's 20. With 6:05 left in the half, Makepeace glided in from nine yards out to make it 13-0 Tigers after the PAT failed due to a snap miscue.
Rushes from Nathan Rackard and Stephen Lacey helped the Bobcats claw back into the game, with their initial first down paving the way for Dill to drill the ball into the end zone, where senior Caleb Thompson snatched it for a Phil Campbell touchdown. The score narrowed Red Bay's lead to 13-7 with 4:11 left in the second quarter.
But Red Bay answered immediately when Horton hit junior Cody Armstrong for a touchdown with 3:16 to go until halftime. The two-point attempt failed when Horton's pass was caught just outside the end zone.
Red Bay struck again following a 3-and-out from the home team as Senkbeil plunged in from the 3-yard line to put Red Bay ahead 26-7 at halftime.
The second half opened with Phil Campbell receiving the kickoff, but Terry Wilemon picked off a Dill pass to set up another scoring drive for Red Bay. Makepeace kicked a field goal to make it 29-7 with 9:49 to go in the third period.
The Bobcats refused to quit, doggedly driving toward Tiger territory with Rackard keeping the drive alive on fourth-and-3. Two plays later, Makepeace came down with a twice-tipped Dill pass to give the visitors possession with 5:04 to go in the third. Flags and fatigue ended that opportunity, however, as the teams began trading punts.
Red Bay sacked sophomore quarterback Jeff White to end both teams' first Class 2A, Region 8 game this season.
"It was very hot and humid tonight," Jeffreys said. "I don't want to use that for an excuse, though it may have slowed everyone down some.
"Phil Campbell was ready to play but we were able to generate offense when we needed to. Pablo had to bail us out some, but we won as a team."
Red Bay hosts Tanner next Friday night, while Phil Campbell travels to West Morgan.