CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Middle School was once again hosting the Tennessee Valley Football League’s eighth grade championship game on Mark Britton Field at Oliver Woodard Stadium Thursday night and for the second time in three seasons, the Bearcats are league champions. The ‘Cats trailed Decatur 14-12 with just over two minutes on the clock, but a fumble gave the ball back to the Bearcats near midfield with one last chance to win it. Just a few plays later, Jordan McClain punched the go-ahead score into the end zone with 38 seconds remaining to put Cullman in front 18-14. The Red Raiders were able to drive down inside the 5-yard line in the final seconds of the game, but the Bearcats held them out of the end zone as time expired to secure an 18-14 win and the league title.
Cullman Head Coach Gerald Turner was proud of the way his team stayed focused and kept fighting when Decatur had a chance to put the game away and said when they came up with the turnover, he knew it was meant to be.
“I think with the way they fumbled it when they did to give us a chance, the good lord was taking care of us. He meant for us to win this one tonight,” Turner said. “These kids have worked hard. They got downgraded a little bit last year and I’ve been reminding them every day. This is the return right here. I can’t ask for anything better from my assistant coaches, they’re the greatest. I just thank God we got that fumble and that it was meant to happen for us tonight. Sometimes it’s just meant to happen.”
After the game kicked off, Cullman put together an impressive opening drive. The ‘Cats ran 14 plays and drove all the way down to the 2-yard line but were stopped on fourth down and Decatur’s offense took over. The Raiders punted the ball away at the start of the second quarter and the Bearcats began moving the chains again. Cullman drove down inside the 5-yard line, but an interception cut the scoring opportunity short, and Decatur took over inside its own 5-yard line.
Two plays later, a Decatur fumble was recovered by Cullman, and it didn’t take long for the ‘Cats to take advantage. Quarterback Everett Swindall lofted one to Jordan McClain near the front pylon and he went up over a Raider defender to haul in a 15-yard touchdown and put the Bearcats in front 6-0 with 1:30 to play in the first half. However, Decatur answered the score before the break, connecting on a 70-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 6 going into halftime.
The Red Raiders came out strong to start the third quarter, driving down the field and putting another touchdown on the board to take a 12-6 lead. Decatur tacked on the two-point conversion to make it a 14-6 game with 4:40 to play in the third. Cullman’s next possession ended with a turnover on downs and was followed by another punt from Decatur a few plays later. That’s when the ‘Cats got back on the board, leaning on some tough running from John Mark Stephens to keep the chains moving. Stephens capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to bring the lead down to 14-12 but Cullman was unable to add the two-point conversion and Decatur got the ball back with just under four minutes on the clock.
The Raiders were running the ball and keeping the clock moving on the ensuing possession, but they fumbled near midfield and the Bearcats jumped on it to take over with two minutes to play. The ‘Cats picked up a couple first downs to move deep into Decatur territory and with 38 seconds on the clock, McClain dove into the end zone from 2 yards out to give Cullman an 18-14 lead.
The Raiders hit a couple of explosive plays and took advantage of a penalty to drive down to the 5-yard line with just a few ticks remaining, but their final pass fell incomplete, and the Bearcats held on to win it 18-14.
McClain led the way offensively with 96 yards and a touchdown on the ground and he added 70 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions as well. Swindall completed 11 of his 15 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown through the air to go with 24 yards on the ground. Stephens added 64 rushing yards and a touchdown in the win and Barrett Johnson caught three passes for 22 yards.
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