CULLMAN, Ala. – Another week, another shutout victory for the Cullman Bearcats. This week is was the Buckhorn Bucks that ran into the ‘Cats defense and Cullman kept them off the board all night to take the game 20-0 and improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2013.
Both teams punted on their opening possessions but the Bearcats struck first later in the first quarter when quarterback Max Dueland aired one out down the far sideline and Nic Glass pulled in the pass with one hand and sprinted across the goal line for a 73-yard touchdown. Brody Adams’ extra point made it 7-0. The Bucks continued to struggle offensively and trailed Cullman 7-0 at the start of the second quarter.
The ‘Cats were kept out of the end zone in the second quarter but that didn’t keep them from putting points on the board. Adams drilled a 35-yard field goal with five minutes to play in the opening half and after Cullman recovered a punt that was touched by a Bucks player, Adams knocked another one through from 35 yards out to make it a 13-0 game at halftime.
Buckhorn recovered a pooch kick to start the third quarter and take over possession, but the Bearcats forced the Bucks to turn the ball over on downs. A fumble from the Cullman offense gave the ball back to Buckhorn midway through the third quarter but after the Bucks managed to drive deep into ‘Cats territory, Sam Brand jumped a slant route and picked off a Buckhorn pass to give the ball right back to Cullman with three minutes to play in the third quarter. The Bearcats were forced to punt but led the way 13-0 going into the final frame.
Cullman’s shut out was in jeopardy midway through the fourth quarter when the Bucks drove back down into Bearcat territory but Buckhorn was stopped just short on a fourth down play to give the ball back to the ‘Cats with six minutes to play and they used the running game to put things out of reach for the Bucks.
A heavy dose of Jaylen Hughey and the rest of the Cullman backfield ran behind the ‘Cats offensive line to knock off a lot of the time remaining in the game and Dueland capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown dive that made it 20-0 with just under a minute to play. The Bearcats would go on to win the game 20-0 to collect their third shutout of the year and move to 4-0.
Hughey led Cullman with 135 yards rushing on 19 carries. Dueland added 33 yards and a touchdown on the ground to go along with a 73-yard touchdown pass.
Cullman will be back home next week to take on Hazel Green.
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