By Staff
Keith Ledbetter
For the FCT
SULLIGENT – The Red Bay Tigers end their post-season run at one game after a 46-13 loss at Sulligent Friday in the first round of the 2A state playoffs.
"I've been here 12 years, and we go through a season like this every once and a while," said Red Bay coach Dale Jeffreys about his teams' 4-7 record. "I know it won't last long. We have some young kids coming back next year, and we're going to be looking at coming back after the Christmas holidays and start getting ready for next season."
Sulligent took advantage of Red Bay's three fumbles and two interceptions early on to take a 26-0 lead by halftime.
The Blue Devils scored 20 points courtesy of a Tiger fumble, a turnover on downs and an interception, all within the first six minutes of play.
Red Bay fumbled on the second play of their first possession on their own 19-yard line.
Sulligent's Rob White scored from the 19 for a 6-0 lead. Three minutes later, the Blue Devils traveled 69 yards after Red Bay's turn over on downs, 14-0.
With just 3:24 remaining in the first, Sulligent scored its third TD after an interception on the 35.
Sulligent ended the first half scoring with a 30-yard pass.
Tiger quarterback Cody Palmer completed only three of 18 attempts in the first half for 97 yards. Red Bay had 54 rushing yards during the first half.
Sulligent added two touchdowns in the third and one in the fourth while Red Bay's Cody Tucker and Chase Lindsey scored Tigers' only touchdowns near the end of the fourth.
"We had opportunities to score early on but we just couldn't execute," Jeffreys said.