Tigers inch toward region title

The Red Bay Tigers all but sewed up a region title with a 20-14 win at Colbert County.  The eighth-ranked Tigers still have region games left against Tanner (1-3) and Tharptown (0-4), but coach Michael Jackson’s team is in the driver’s seat.

“We played a really good football game Friday night,” said Jackson. “We still have some work to do, but we control our own destiny at this point.”

Last year the region title came down to a coin toss. This year Red Bay is in total control.

“Colbert County is a tough place to play, and a Red Bay team hasn’t been there in over 50 years,” said Jackson. “We were excited to get out of there with a win and a chance to host the first round of the playoffs.”

Red Bay struck first early in the game on a 14-yard run by Colyn Humphres with 9:25 to go in the first quarter to give the Tigers a 6-0 lead.

Red Bay scored again with 9:55 to go in the second quarter to take a 12-0 lead on a 25-yard pass from Jalen Vinson to Humphres.

Colbert County scored right out of halftime on a 39-yard touchdown pass with 10:24 to go in the third quarter to cut the Tigers’ lead to 12-7, but the relentless Tigers extended their lead to 20-7 with 7:10 to go in the game on a seven-yard run by Vinson.  

Colbert County answered on the ensuing drive to cut the Tigers’ lead to 20-14, but that was the most the Indians could muster.

Humphres rushed the ball 10 times for 119 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a touchdown pass.

Vinson completed five of nine passes for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Red Bay will host Tanner Friday night to clinch the region title.