CULLMAN – Defense, defense, defense. Those are the words most heard on the sideline and Friday night the Cullman Bearcat’s proved why it is so important as they dominated the air space, snatching down four interceptions on the night and defeating the Albertville Aggies 31-9.
The game did not start out fast and furious as both teams exchanged field goals. It wasn’t until Cullman’s Josh Skinner broke through the special teams’ defense to block a punt attempt and eventually recovered the ball at the Aggie’s 10-yard line that the game really took off.
On first-and-goal, Bearcat QB Fletcher Jennings connected with Carson Freeman on a fast screen pass on the first play to take the lead 10-3 with 2:43 left in the half. Jennings and Ezra Burks helped carry the Bearcats down the field before connecting to give Cullman a 17-3 lead at the half.
The Bearcat defense came out after the half with a chip on its shoulder and hounded every play Albertville attempted before forcing the Aggies into a bad punt, setting Cullman up at the Aggies’ 34-yard line.
Burks and Jayden Sullins carried the Bearcats down the field easily as Burks scored on an easy walk-in touchdown, ballooning the lead to 24-3.
Seth Gable took down an interception for the second time of the game, giving Cullman the ball back on its 46-yard line. A turnover on downs gave the Aggies a chance but it wasn’t meant to be; Bearcat Kasey Murphree intercepted a screen pass and took it back deep into Albertville territory with 7:47 left in the game. Burks took advantage of the great field position for a quick 11-yard run to put Cullman up 31-3 after the PAT.
Cullman pulled most of its starters after Jaron Potter snagged Cullman’s fourth interception of the game at midfield with 6:55 remaining in the game.
The Aggies scored in garbage time but missed the PAT, leaving the final score at 31-9.
Cullman will be on the road next week to take on Oxford with a 2-1 record, coming off its first win in Region 7.
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