By Slade Gilmer

For the FCT

Red Bay used big plays on both sides of the football to earn a dominant 52-0 win over their Class 2A, Region 8 counterparts, the Mars Hill Bible School Panthers, Friday, Oct. 2.

The Tigers scored two defensive touchdowns and had three touchdown passes that totaled more than 150 yards en route to their 15th-straight regular season win and 16th-consecutive region victory.

Red Bay received the opening kickoff, but a fumble gave Mars Hill the ball on its own 36. The Panthers converted a fourth-and-one to keep their drive alive, but two plays later, Josh Wilson stepped in front of a Mars Hill pass and raced 50 yards for the touchdown. Abdul Muzayad added the extra point to give Red Bay a 7-0 advantage.

After forcing a Panther punt on the next drive, the Tiger offense turned to its aerial attack to get back on the scoreboard, as quarterback Troy Borden hit Reed Holt streaking down the visitors’ sideline for a 64-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was successful, pushing Red Bay’s lead to 14-0.

Red Bay looked to have a chance at padding the lead when Tate Ozbirn picked off another Mars Hill pass, but the Panther defense stiffened and forced a punt. However, Borden’s punt was downed on the Mars Hill one-yard line, and two plays later the Panthers fumbled the ball out of the end zone for a safety, pushing the Tiger lead to 16-0.

Holt returned the ensuing free-kick back for an 80-yard touchdown, but a holding call negated it. Two plays later, however, Holt got in the end zone for the second time, this one on a 53-yard reception from Borden, making the score 23-0.

Red Bay forced another three-and-out on defense, and this time, the rushing attack made the big play, as Jesus Kelly took a handoff around left end and ran 54 yards for the touchdown. The snap on the extra-point attempt was low, but Nick Thorn alertly picked the ball off the ground and ran into the right corner of the end zone for the two-point conversion to push the Tiger lead to 31-0.

After the kickoff, the Panthers tried to get back to their air attack, but instead, Wilson picked off his second pass and waltzed 25 yards for his second interception return for a touchdown of the night. The extra point pushed the lead to 38-0.

After another punt, Red Bay turned to its ground game to bleed the clock and put more points on the board. Ozbirn did the bulk of the damage, gaining 43 yards on five carries, but Wilson finished the drive off with a nine-yard touchdown run, giving him three total for the game, and pushing the Tiger lead to 45-0.

Mars Hill’s next drive ended after a sack, and after an Ozbirn run put the ball in Panther territory, Borden found Holt again for a 38-yard touchdown to make the score 52-0 at halftime.

After the break, the two head coaches agreed to play eight minute quarters, which allowed the Tigers to get valuable playing time for their reserves, but the second-team defense stood tall, holding the Panthers to 49 yards in the second half and preserving the shutout.

For the game, Borden was four-of-six for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Holt had three receptions for 155 yards and three touchdowns, Ozbirn had 65 yards on nine carries and an interception and Wilson had two carries for 31 yards and a touchdown as well as two interception returns for touchdowns. Kelly had one reception for six yards and one carry for 54 yards and a touchdown, and Aaron Lewey had 56 yards rushing on 15 carries.

For the night, the Tigers had 381 yards of total offense, with 220 yards on the ground and 161 through the air. The Panthers, meanwhile, had 30 yards on 26 carries and 54 yards on 10-of-19 passing, with three interceptions, for 84 total yards.

Red Bay, ranked fourth in Class 2A in the most recent polls, moved to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in Class 2A, Region 8.

The Tigers will host Hatton Friday, Oct. 9, at Fred Bostick Stadium in another Region 8 showdown. A Tiger victory will give them their second-consecutive region crown. Red Bay defeated Hatton 28-21 last season.