Red Bay routs Mars Hill

Nick Thorn returns a Mars Hill punt with Tate Ozbirn blocking. Photo by Keith Ledbetter.

By Keith Ledbetter

For the FCT

With a 54-0 win over Mars Hill last Friday night, the Red Bay Tigers remain undefeated in 2A Region 8 play.

“We came out and executed on both sides of the ball, and took care of business,” Tiger head coach Michael Jackson said about his team’s shutout of the Panthers.

After their homecoming night victory, Red Bay is now 4-0 in the region and 6-1 overall.

With large number game wins, the Tigers are averaging 44 points per game going into week seven this Friday against Hatton, another region opponent.

Just two plays into Friday’s game, Tiger quarterback Troy Borden connected with Jade Pounds for a 55-yard touchdown pass to put the Tigers up 6-0.

Just four plays later, Nick Thorn returned the Panthers’ punt 45 yards to the 25, setting up a Tyler Reach TD run from the 19.

In just three minutes of game time, the Tigers held a 13-0 lead over Mars Hill.

On their next scoring drive, Thorn, Ozbirn, Holt, and Pounds all picked up yardage to move Red Bay down field to the 15 of the Panthers.

Reach added his second of four TDs on the ensuing play. Hester’s point after gave Red Bay a 20-0 lead with just under four minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Red Bay scored again near the end of the quarter when Borden connected with Thorn.

The Tigers took over on downs to start the second quarter and just four plays later Reach scored from the one yard line. Following Hester’s point after kick, Red Bay led 33-0.

Red Bay’s Andrew Ray picked off a Mars Hill pass to set up Red Bay’s 40-0 first half lead when Tyler Reach took it in around the right side.

With a large 40-point lead, both opposing coaches agreed to eight-minute quarters to cut the game time down and to help reduce a possible further run-a-way score.

As a result, Red Bay’s coach Jackson took the opportunity to give his second team players important game time in the second half.

“A lot of kids got to play tonight,” Jackson said following the game Friday night.

“Several of these kids that played tonight will be big for us down the road.

“Some of the players that we played in the second, third and fourth quarters will have to step up sometime in the future.”

With Colby Bragwell in at the Tiger’s quarterbacking position, Red Bay took a 47-0 lead on a Daniel Wooten TD.

Wooten also scored the Tigers’ final touchdown of the night.

Red Bay will face region rival Hatton on the road this Friday to determine the Region 8 Championship.

The Hornets were defeated by Sulligent 19-14 in game three and the Tigers defeated the Blue Devils 24-14 in game four, so a win would secure Red Bay the top slot in Region 8 and possible hosting privileges for round one in the state playoffs.

“This is going to be a big game for us,” Jackson said.

“Hatton is having a good year, and they know they have a chance to move up in the standings if they can play us and we know that if we take care of that game we are going to be the region champs.

“I’m excited for our kids, because they’ve got to work for that all week long.”