By Staff
Scot Beard
RED BAY – Fans at Fred Bostick Stadium got to see a rare sight Friday, as Red Bay was shutout for the first time since the 1997 season in a 21-0 loss to Lexington.
The Golden Bear defense dominated the game, holding the Tigers to only 116 yards of total offense.
"Our starting quarterback was out so we went with our No.-2 QB," Red Bay coach Dale Jeffreys said. "He was only able to get two days of reps in practice this week."
Starting quarterback Cody Palmer missed the game due to an illness in the family, so Cody Tucker took the snaps Friday.
The game was close in the first half as the Red Bay (4-5, 4-3) defense was solid, keeping Lexington off the scoreboard despite trips deep into Red Bay territory.
On Lexington's second possession of the game, the Golden Bears drove to the Red Bay 8-yard line, but on third-and-goal the Tigers' Joseph Reach sacked the Lexington quarterback for a 10-yard loss. Lexington elected to kick a field goal, but the kick missed its mark.
Unfazed, Lexington took its next possession to the Red Bay 13, but this time it was a sack by John Thigpen that forced another field goal try that failed.
Lexington (5-4, 5-2) finally scored with 10 seconds remaining in the first half on a 10-yard run.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but the Golden Bears added a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Even with the loss, Red Bay clinched a playoff berth.
"The streak stays alive," Jeffreys said. "At the beginning of the year we played well, but we have been decimated by injuries. We've been fortunate over the years not to have that problem.
Thigpen led the Red Bay defense with eight tackles while Curtis Morrell and Chase Lindsey recorded seven tackles each.
Red Bay hosts Colbert Heights Friday.