CULLMAN, Ala. – After handling Mortimer Jordan last week, the Cullman Bearcats were back home at Oliver Woodard Stadium Friday night to host their region opener against Athens. The ‘Cats found some life on the offensive side of the ball in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the early Eagle lead and Athens held on to top Cullman 24-14.
After the opening kick, the Eagles put together a methodical drive, pushing the ball down inside the Bearcats’ 5-yard line. However, Cullman’s defense stood tall and held Athens out of the end zone on four straight plays, knocking the ball loose on fourth down and giving the ball to the ‘Cats offense on their own 5-yard line. Cullman was forced to punt a few plays later and the Eagles hit a 25-yard field goal on the ensuing drive to take a 3-0 lead with 2:32 to play in the first quarter.
A Cullman interception gave the ball back to Athens’ offense with good field position and the Eagles took advantage, scoring on a 21-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 10-0 with just over eight minutes remaining in the second quarter. Chance Hausler dove to intercept an Athens pass later in the quarter but neither team was able to get any more points on the board in the first half and Cullman went into the locker room trailing 10-0 at the break.
A 7-yard touchdown run put the Eagles ahead 17-0 early in the third quarter but the Bearcats responded on their next possession. Quarterback Preston Gay hit receiver Grayson Gay on a screen pass, and he took it 47 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. JD Ellerbee’s extra point attempt split the uprights and trimmed the lead to 17-7 with eight minutes to play in the third.
Cullman’s next possession ended with a turnover on downs and Athens was able to drain most of the time remaining in the fourth quarter on the ensuing drive. After running nearly nine minutes off the clock, the Eagles punched one into the end zone from 4 yards out to make it a 24-7 game with just over three minutes to play. The Bearcats put together one more scoring drive before the game ended, capped by a 26-yard touchdown pass from Gay to Rex Chandler but the ‘Cats ran out of time and Athens went on to win it 24-14.
Gay finished with 175 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air to go with 79 yards rushing. Cooper Loftin added 42 rushing yards on 11 carries.
Cullman will be back on the road next week to face Jasper.
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