The Red Bay Tigers played their second football game Friday night at almost the midpoint of the season. After a sputtering start, the Tigers found their footing and romped to a 53-0 win.

The Tiger offense was inconsistent early in the game, relying on the defense to help them settle in. Red Bay was able to capitalize on three Tharptown interceptions, turning them into Tiger scores.

Red Bay struggled with the passing game, completing five of 17 passes for 49 yards, an interception and a touchdown. The Tiger offense had to rely mostly on the run game, rushing for 270 yards. Red Bay’s defense limited Tharptown to 99 total yards of offense.

Jalen Vinson rushed for 89 yards on five carries and two touchdowns. Aiden Quinn carried the ball 12 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns.

Tharptown held Red Bay out of the end zone for most of the first quarter. In fact, Red Bay’s first score came on a pick-six. Hunter Pounds intercepted a Tharptown pass and sprinted 42 yards for the Tigers’ first touchdown of the game at the 10:44 mark in the first quarter. The two-point conversion failed, giving Red Bay a 6-0 lead.

Red Bay’s Brady Hardin blocked a Tharptown punt, setting up the Tigers’ second touchdown of the night. This time, Vinson ran the ball in from one yard out. Quinn added the two-point conversion to give the Tigers a 14-0 lead with 11:42 to go in the second quarter.

Red Bay capitalized on another Tharptown turnover on the ensuing drive to set up another score. This time, Vinson broke free and ran the ball 43 yards for the score giving the Tigers a 20-0 lead with 8:58 to go in the second quarter.

Red Bay scored two more times in the second quarter. Vinson completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Cody Carnes with 5:48 to go, and after the two-point conversion run by Vinson, Red Bay led 28-0. Quinn added a one-yard run with 2:42 remaining in the half to give Red Bay a 34-0 halftime lead.

Red Bay scored twice in the third quarter on a five-yard run by Quinn and a seven-yard run by Hunter King, extending the Tigers’ lead to 46-0.

Red Bay added a final score late in the fourth quarter on a 14-yard run by Keaton Lanphear.

The Tigers and Wildcats both go on the road this week – Red Bay to Belmont and Tharptown to Cherokee.