Red Bay clinches critical region win

Red Bay’s Tate Ozbirn fought injury to help bring the Tigers a 30-29 win in double overtime Friday.

By Bart Moss for the FCT

Hampered by injuries, the Red Bay Tigers won a thriller in double overtime to take a critical region game from the Sulligent Blue Devils 30-29. Jesus Kelly scored on a four-yard run in double overtime and then added the two-point run to get Red Bay the win on Senior Night.

Leading rusher Tate Ozbirn was slowed due to a lingering injury, Kaleb Burroughs was out due to a possible concussion, and back-up running back Aaron Lewey was on crutches in the second half.

Kelly tied the game at 14-14 with 4:44 to go in regulation on an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Kolby Bragwell recovered a Sulligent fumble following a big hit by Andrew Richardson to help send the game into overtime.

Red Bay got the ball first in overtime and scored on a five-yard pass from Bragwell to Max Bullen. Kelly added a two-point conversion run. Sulligent answered the Tigers with a ten-yard touchdown run and added the two-point conversion to tie the game at 22-22 and send the game into a second overtime.

The Blue Devils score on their first possession of the second overtime to take a 29-22 lead. The Tigers then got the touchdown and conversion from Kelly to secure the win.

Bragwell scored first for the Tigers on a one-yard run early in the second quarter.

Red Bay won the game despite being limited to 241 total yards to Sulligent’s 315 yards.

The Tigers will travel to Phil Campbell Friday night to face their county rival the Bobcats.