JASPER, Ala. – The Bearcats were on the road Friday night to renew their rivalry with the Jasper Vikings, and it was another tight battle between the ‘Cats and the Vikings. Special teams miscues by Jasper allowed Cullman to take an early lead but the Bearcats had to come up with some big plays late in the game to hold on to a hard-fought, 15-13 road win over the Vikings.
The ‘Cats forced Jasper to punt on its opening possession and with the Vikings backed up deep in their own end zone, Cullman was able to block the punt out of the back of the end zone and take an early, 2-0 lead with a safety. Special teams continued to be a problem for Jasper. The Vikings lined up for another punt later in the second quarter, but the snap sailed over the punter’s head and was recovered in the end zone by the Bearcats for a touchdown. Garrett Mobley’s extra point attempt split the uprights and Cullman led 9-0 midway through the second quarter.
However, Jasper responded on its next possession with a scoring drive capped off by a 6-yard touchdown pass that trimmed the lead to 9-7 with less than five minutes remaining in the half. Just a few plays later, a Cullman interception gave the Vikings’ offense a very short field to work with and a 3-yard touchdown run gave Jasper a 13-9 lead with four minutes on the clock. The Bearcats were able to move the ball down the field late in the second quarter and as the final seconds of the period ticked away, Mobley drilled a 32-yard field goal to cut the lead to 13-12 at the halftime break.
Neither offense was able to do much in the third quarter, but Cullman quarterback Tanner Gaines connected with Wyatt Buchanan and Cooper Ogstad for a pair of big gains to start the fourth. The ‘Cats were unable to finish that drive in the end zone but Mobley’s second field goal of the night, this one from 21 yards, gave Cullman a 15-13 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game. A fumble gave the ball back to the Vikings near midfield with around seven minutes to play but the Bearcats’ defense was able to get the stop they needed once again and gave the ball back to the offense deep in its own territory. Gaines hit Ogstad streaking down the middle of the field for a 40-yard gain to move the ball out near midfield and facing third and 10 a few plays later, Gaines found Ogstad just past the sticks to move the chains, keep the clock running and secure a 15-13 victory for the ‘Cats.
Cullman improves to 1-1 with the win and will look to stay in the win column against another rival when the Bearcats travel to take on Hartselle next week.
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