Red Bay loses 28-21, makes playoffs
By Staff
Keith Ledbetter
For the FCT
RED BAY – The Red Bay football team's hope of a playoff berth was in jeopardy after the Tigers lost to Colbert Heights 28-21 in overtime Friday.
With the loss, the Tigers fall to 4-6 on the year, but earned the fourth playoff seed in Class 2A, Region 8 according to the Alabama High School Athletic Association Web site. The Tigers will travel to Sulligent for a first-round game next week.
Red Bay dominated the first half, scoring on a 7-yard run by Chase Lindsey to cap a seven-play, 49-yard drive with 9:22 remaining in the first quarter. Lindsey added the extra point to put the Tigers ahead 7-0.
He padded the lead three minutes later on a 4-yard run and was good on the point-after attempt.
Cody Tucker got in on the scoring action when he took a reverse and raced 22 yards for a touchdown. Lindsey added the point after to increase the Tiger lead to 21-0.
Lindsey led the Red Bay offense in the first half with 132 rushing yards while Tucker had 75 yards.
Moments later, Colbert Heights got on the scoreboard with 16-yard touchdown pass to cut the Red Bay lead to 14 points. Colbert Heights only managed 111 yards of total offense in the first half.
Neither team was able to score in the third quarter, but Colbert Heights cut the lead to seven points on a 65-yard touchdown strike to end a seven-play, 72-yard drive.
The Tigers offense sputtered in the second half, failing to convert on several fourth-and-short situations.
Colbert Heights tied the game with 3:16 remaining in fourth on a 76-yard pass. Colbert Height got the ball back shortly before the end of regulation, but was unable to score as Red Bay's Dustin McCarthy intercepted a pass with no time remaining.
The Tigers won the coin toss in overtime and elected to play defense first. Colbert Heights scored on their first play to take a 28-21 lead.
Red Bay attempted several running plays, but Colbert Heights ended game with an interception in the end zone.
Lindsey finished the game with 203 rushing yards to lead Red Bay. 203 yards.
Colbert Heights had 306 passing yards in the second half.
