JASPER, Ala. – Cullman back on the road for a rainy regional matchup at Jasper Friday night and despite the wet and windy conditions on the field, it was another classic battle between the Bearcats and the Vikings. Cullman trailed 20-7 at one point in the second half but scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth to come from behind and claim a 21-20 region win.
After exchanging punts to start the game, Jasper scored on a long touchdown run to take a 6-0 lead late in the first quarter. The Bearcats answered later in the second quarter when Cooper Loftin punched one into the end zone from a yard out to tie the game at 6 and JD Ellerbee’s extra point gave the ‘Cats a 7-6 lead. However, Jasper was able to get on the scoreboard again before the end of the period and Cullman went into the locker room trailing 12-7 at halftime.
The Vikings pulled ahead 20-7 later in the third quarter and power outages in the stadium began to cause delays but the Bearcats were unfazed. Preston Gay pushed his way into the end zone from the 1-yard line to trim the lead to 20-13 with 8:30 to play and Gay wasn’t done making big plays yet.
Cullman’s defense forced the Vikings to punt the ball away with just under six minutes remaining and the ‘Cats put together one of their best drives of the night. Gay scrambled for a big gain to move the chains on a 3rd and 16 play and he found Asher Drake for a 15-yard gain through the air on the next play to move the chains again. With just over a minute on the clock, Gay took off again, weaving through defenders and spinning into the end zone to make it a 20-19 game with 59 seconds to play. Cullman decided to go for two and Gay found Drake wide open in the middle of the end zone for an easy completion, putting the ‘Cats in front 21-20.
Jasper managed to drive the ball down into field goal range, but a 36-yard attempt sailed wide left as time expired and Cullman held on to secure a dramatic, 21-20 comeback win.
The Bearcats improve to 2-2 with the win and they’ll be back on the road next week to take on Muscle Shoals.
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