Red Bay clinches top spot in region

After a slow start, the Red Bay Tigers steamrolled the Tanner Rattlers to clinch the top spot in Class 2A, Region 7 and will host a first-round play-off game in three weeks.

The Tigers fell behind 13-0 in the first quarter but then went on to outscore the Rattlers 50-8 the rest of the way en route to a 50-21 win.

Tanner scored twice in the first quarter: on a 60-yard punt return and an eight-yard pass to take a 13-0 lead.

Red Bay went on to score eight unanswered touchdowns, including four in the second quarter alone.

The first score came on a one-yard run by quarterback Jalen Vinson at the 11:30 mark in the second quarter. Vinson added a two-point conversion run to cut Tanner’s lead to 13-8.

The Tigers scored three times in the last six minutes of the second quarter to take control of the game.

They took the lead with 5:40 to go in the half on a three-yard run by Colyn Humphres.  Humphres converted the two-point conversion run to give Red Bay a 16-8 lead.

The Tigers scored again with 1:26 to go in the half on a five-yard run by Humphres to give Red Bay a 22-13 lead.

As time expired in the first half, Vinson intercepted a Tanner pass and returned it 62 yards to paydirt. The two-point conversion run by Hunter King gave Red Bay a 30-13 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Vinson hit Mason Holt for a 16-yard touchdown pass to give Red Bay a 37-13 lead with 4:48 to go.

Red Bay added another third-quarter score with 2:40 to go on a 10-yard run by King to make the score 44-13.

The Tigers scored their final touchdown with 5:07 to go in the game, when Vinson and Holt connected again – this time for 19 yards and the score.

Tanner added a late score to make the final 50-21.

Vinson completed 11 of 18 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. He also had the pick six to end the first half.

Red Bay will close out region play at Tharptown Friday night.