CULLMAN, Ala. – Friday night was a special one for the history of Cullman High School’s football program. Not only did the ‘Cats collect a 42-21 win over the Jasper Vikings, the field at Oliver Woodard Stadium was also named for Cullman’s all-time winningest coach, Mark Britton just before kickoff. A packed house of Bearcat fans, former players and coaches were in attendance to celebrate with Britton and his family, and Cullman kept the celebration going with a stellar performance on the field.
After exchanging punts with the Vikings on their first two possessions, the Bearcats pulled ahead 7-0 after quarterback Ryan Skinner burst up the middle of the field for a 42-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. Cullman’s next possession was extended by a roughing the punter penalty and the ‘Cats took advantage two plays later when Skinner connected with Nate Zills deep down the middle of the field for a 45-yard touchdown that made it a 14-0 game just one minutes into the second quarter.
Jasper was able to answer on its ensuing possession, hitting a touchdown pass of its own to cut the lead to 14-7 early in the second. The Bearcats responded with a methodical, seven-minute drive that was capped off by a 2-yard scoring run from Skinner and Cullman moved back in front 21-7 with four minutes remaining in the first half. The ‘Cats forced the Vikings to punt again, and it took just one play for them to add to their lead. Skinner found Zills streaking open down the field once again, this time from 49 yards out, and tacked on seven more to make it a 28-7 game going into halftime.
Jasper received the ball to start the third quarter, but the drive was cut short when Sawyer Trimble intercepted a Vikings pass and gave the ball back to Cullman near midfield. However, the ‘Cats were forced to punt, and a long touchdown run on the ensuing Jasper possession trimmed the lead to 28-14 midway through the third. That score didn’t hold for long. Evan Dye punched one into the endzone from the 1-yard line on the Bearcats’ next possession and stretched the lead back out to 35-14 with four minutes to play in the quarter.
Back to back sacks by the Bearcats led to another Jasper punt and the black & gold put things away a few plays later. With about eight minutes remaining in the fourth, Patrick Adcock drug a host of Vikings defenders with him into the end zone from 12 yards out and gave Cullman a comfortable, 42-14 lead. Jasper managed to score one more time before the end of the game, but it was too little, too late and the Bearcats went on to collect their second win of the season 42-21.
Skinner finished with a pair of touchdown passes through the air in the win, both to Zills, and he added 48 yards and two touchdowns on the ground as well. Dye posted 52 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries and Adcock tacked on 45 more yards and a touchdown of his own. Tyler Owens finished with 58 rushing yards on nine carries and L.J. Turner carried it eight times for 45 yards in the win.
Cullman will return to Mark Britton Field next week to take on Hartselle in another big rivalry matchup.
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