CULLMAN, Ala. – It was a wet and rainy night for football at Oliver Woodard Stadium Friday night and that’s exactly how the Bearcats wanted it. Cullman’s explosive running game led the way to a 42-23 upset over the Fort Payne Wildcats that will surely give the Bearcats a boost of momentum going into the postseason.
Cullman took the opening kick and got things started with a long, time consuming drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run from Max Dueland that made it 7-0 midway through the opening quarter. The Wildcats responded with a scoring drive of their own that took just four plays and just over a minute off the game clock and tied things up at 7.
The Bearcats had an answer for everything Fort Payne threw at them tonight and punched in another rushing touchdown, this time on the legs of Jaylen Hughey from 3 yards out, and moved back in front 14-7. The Wildcats fumbled on their ensuing possession and the recovery by Josh Miranda set Cullman up with a first down at the Fort Payne 20-yard line. The Bearcats took advantage and pulled ahead 21-7 when Sullins took in his first score of the night from 4 yards out.
The ‘Cats maintained a 21-7 at the halftime break but the Wildcats came out swinging in the third quarter. A couple of big runs led to another Fort Payne score early in the second half but they a failed two-point conversion attempt made it a 21-13 game. The Bearcats were then forced to punt for the first and only time during the game midway through the third quarter and the Wildcats managed to get on the board again with a 23-yard field goal that cut the lead to 21-16.
Cullman was able to muster another response and cap off another scoring drive when Dueland scored from 5 yards out on a quarterback keeper to put the ‘Cats up 28-16 going into the fourth quarter. The score was set up by a 70-yard burst from Hughey up the middle of the field. Another big run from Hughey put the Bearcats in scoring position again on their next possession and Dueland punched in his third touchdown of the night from 2 yards out to put Cullman on top 35-16 with just nine minutes to play.
A tipped pass at the goal line was intercepted by Noah Bussman on Fort Payne’s ensuing possession and the Bearcats took over at their own 2-yard line midway through the fourth quarter. Just a few plays later, Sullins put the game out of reach when he shot up the middle of the field for an 87-yard touchdown, giving Cullman a commanding, 42-16 lead with just four minutes remaining. The Wildcats managed to punch one in with less than a minute to play but it was too little too late and the Bearcats wrapped up the regular season with a 42-23 win over Fort Payne.
Hughey finished the night with 206 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and Sullins racked up 156 yards with a pair of scores in the win. Dueland finished with 17 yards and three touchdowns on the ground while completing five of his seven passes for 74 yards.
Cullman finishes a grueling regular season schedule 5-5 and will get next week off before traveling to Mae Jemison for the first round the AHSAA State Playoffs November 8th.
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