Tigers nab decisive win over PCHS
Red Bay’s Huston McKinney tries to tackle Phil Campbell’s Justin Baker in the Tigers’ and the Bobcats’ Friday night game. Photo by Keith Ledbetter.
By Keith Ledbetter
For the FCT
You’ll have to look deep into the Tigers’ record book to find anything close to this past Friday’s score.
At the end of the game, Red Bay was just one point shy of scoring 70 points in their 69-13 win over area rival Phil Campbell.
“I was excited about how we started. We came out really fast and executing well,” Tiger head coach Michael Jackson said.
“This was one of those games where we’re going to work on ourselves to get better.
Red Bay, 4-1 overall and 3-0 in area play, took a 28-0 first quarter lead, scoring on their first four dives.
The Tigers’ first TD came on a third and six pass reception from quarterback Troy Borden to Tate Ozbirn from the Bobcats’ 45 yard line.
After pulling in the pass, Ozbirn broke several tackles down the right side to score Red Bay’s first of 10 TDs of the night.
Kicker Dekota Hester was 9 of 10 in point after kicks for the Tigers.
On Phil Campbell’s next possession, a fake punt on fourth and 10 at the 20 by the Bobcats resulted in only a one-yard gain with Red Bay taking over on the Phil Campbell 21 yard line.
Borden connected with Jade Pounds to the one yard line, and Tyler Reach walked it in for the first of his five scores of the night.
Red Bay set up their next TD after Reed Holt carried the Tigers around the left side to the 40 yard line. Nick Thorn tacked on another 10 to the 30. After Reach added five, he took a pitch around the left side for a 25-yard scoring run.
Red Bay set up their final first quarter TD on a pass to Holt and a long run to the 34 by Pounds.
Borden then connected with Nick Thorn to put Red Bay up 28-0 with 1:44 remaining in the first quarter.
On the Bobcats’ next possession, Red Bay’s Kolby Knoblock moved them back five yards on a stop in the backfield, forcing Phil Campbell into a second and 15 from their own 20.
The Bobcats picked up only 11 yards on the series and were forced to punt on fourth and four from the 32.
Both teams started the second quarter on down turnovers, but a blocked punt by Red Bay’s Holt gave Red Bay possession on the 17 of Phil Campbell.
Borden connected with Thorn on the first play to give the Tigers a 35-0 lead with 3:48 remaining in the first half.
Red Bay’s Reach rounded out the half with a five-yard TD run to send Red Bay into the third with a 42-0 advantage.
Phil Campbell mounted a 65-yard scoring dive to start the third quarter and capped off the drive with a 23-yard TD pass from Bobcat quarterback Peyton Thomas to Austin Riner.
A Red Bay block on the point after left the Bobcats trailing 42-6.
Red Bay’s Thorn returned the Bobcats’ kick-off 80 yards to further extend the Tigers’ lead to 49-6.
Just minutes later, Holt picked up his second blocked punt to set up a Reach TD run.
With 4:31 remaining in the third quarter, Red Bay led 56-6.
Phil Campbell’s Casey Galloway added a two-yard TD run following a 70-yard drive by the Bobcats to leave them trailing 56-13.
The Tigers’ special teams squad opened up a path for the kick-off and Thorn added his second run back of the night, this time for 85 yards.
Red Bay’s Daniel Wooten punched in Red Bay’s final score from the three yard line.
“I was happy to see our young kids come in at the last,” Jackson said.
“Daniel Wooten played well and ended up scoring a touchdown. I was excited about that.”
Jackson said that Red Bay’s second team defense played the entire second half and he felt as if they’re going to help the team later on.
“We’ve just got to keep executing well and get better next week,” Jackson added.
Next week the Tigers are on the road to Belmont for the annual cross-state rival game, and Phil Campbell will travel to Phillips.
