CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman Bearcats hosted the Hueytown Golden Gophers for homecoming Friday night and the Bearcats came up short in a hard-fought game, 33-16. The Bearcat defense did an admirable job slowing down Alabama Crimson Tide commit Roydell Williams despite coming up short against the Golden Gophers.
Cullman received the opening kickoff and on the first play from scrimmage, a fumble ended the drive as quickly as it began. Five plays later, a 10-yard run put the Gophers ahead 7-0 early. After a lengthy drive, Cullman answered with a field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3 with 4:41 remaining in the opening quarter.
On the ensuing possession, Hueytown looked like it was going to add to its lead after a lengthy drive of its own, but the Bearcat defense forced a fumble and got the ball backed up on its own 1-yard line. Three plays later, Cullman took a 9-7 lead thanks to an 89-yard run by Jaylen Hughey on the first play of the second quarter. Cullman elected to pull an onside kick, which was successful, but the Bearcats were unable to convert on fourth down and four plays later, a long run gave the lead to the Gophers, 14-9, with 6:38 remaining in the opening half.
Hueytown took the second half kickoff and pounded the ball on the ground, capping off the drive with a 15-yard run to extend the lead 21-9 early in the third quarter. Another 10-yard run late in the third quarter added to the Gophers lead and made it a 27-9 game but on the first offensive play of Cullman’s next possession, Jayden Sullins went 64 yards to the house and cut the lead to 27-16 with 1:25 left to play in the third quarter.
A 3-yard run with 8:46 remaining in the fourth quarter extended the Hueytown lead to 33-16 and the Gophers held on to win it by that final score.
Williams finished the game with 189 total yards and three touchdowns. Cullman’s Hughey finished the game with 184 rushing yards and a touchdown and Sullins added 73 rushing yards and a touchdown of his own.
Cullman moves to 3-3 on the year and will be back in region play next week when the Bearcats travel to take on Athens.
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