Tigers pull away from Sheffield to stay undefeated

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The Red Bay Tigers were able to overcome a sluggish start offensively for the third straight week and go on to win comfortably, 40-20, on homecoming night.

Red Bay outgained Sheffield 389 yards to 194 yards. Most of the Tigers’ yardage – 332 – came on the ground.

Once again, Jalen Vinson struggled in the passing game but took over with his legs, rushing the ball for 101 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns. He also passed for one touchdown.

Sheffield picked off a Red Bay pass on the first series of the game and took it 30 yards to the end zone for the game’s first touchdown.

Red Bay took the lead near the end of the first quarter on a four-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion run by Vinson. The Tigers led 8-7 with 0:14 to go in the opening quarter of play.

Red Bay scored again late in the second quarter on a 48-yard pass from Vinson to Mason Holt. Aiden Quinn added the two-point conversion run to give the Tigers a 16-7 lead going into halftime.

Sheffield closed the gap to 16-14 on a 57-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter.

Red Bay went on to score three unanswered touchdowns. The first score came on a 79-yard kickoff return by Holt, giving the Tigers a 24-14 lead with 9:14 to go in the third quarter.

Vinson scored on back-to-back touchdown runs of 18 yards and three yards to extend Red Bay’s lead to 40-14 with 7:27 to go in the game.

The Bulldogs added their final score on the ensuing kickoff, returning the kick 76 yards for the touchdown.

Quinn had 97 hard-earned yards on the ground on 20 carries. Holt had 93 yards on eight carries, 57 receiving yards on two catches and a 79-yard kick-off return for a touchdown.

Red Bay crowned Makenzie Hester Homecoming Queen prior to the game and crowned Kylie James Homecoming Princess and Alexis Tabbs Football Queen.

The Tigers will travel to Hatton Friday night and try to stay unbeaten going into a much-anticipated matchup with Mars Hill next week.