CULLMAN, Ala. – On a hot and humid Friday night, the Cullman Bearcats played their first regional game of the season and played host to the Minor Tigers. Cullman flipped the script of their previous two games, and the Tigers jumped out to an early lead. The Bearcats scrambled back for an exciting overtime win over the Tigers, 27-26.
Minor took the opening kickoff and began a 15-play drive that resulted in a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tommie Burts to Logan Johnson for the Tigers. Burts ran the ball into the end zone for the two-point conversion. Minor overcame a couple of penalties and a fourth-and-seven to complete the time consuming drive. The score with 5:24 to go in the first quarter was 8-0.
After a quick three-and-out for the Bearcats on offense, a good punt return put the Tigers back in business on the Cullman 42-yard line. On the first play, Burts was intercepted by Cullman’s Tucker Willingham and the Bearcats took over on their own 47-yard line. Â
Aided by a defensive pass interference call against Minor and a 14-yard pass from Clayton Colvard to Samuel Ellerby, Cullman ended the first quarter deep in Minor territory.
Beginning the second quarter, Cullman’s drive stalled. Brooks West lined up to attempt a 40-yard field goal. The attempt was good and with 10:59 left in the first half the Bearcats had cut Minor’s lead, 8-3.
The Tigers took over after the kickoff on their own 30-yard line. It only took Minor four plays when Burts completed a 59-yard touchdown pass to Johnson again and with 8:57 left in the half, the Tigers extended their lead to 14-3 with a successful point after kick.
Cullman couldn’t mount a drive and was forced to punt after three plays and Minor took over near midfield. Several costly penalties had the Tigers looking at a third-and-28 from their own 28-yard line. During the next play, Cullman forced a fumble and Cullman’s Carson Stancil recovered on the Cullman 42-yard line.
A couple of big catches by Tucker Screws and Cullman were inside the Minor five-yard line. A penalty against Cullman backed them up outside the five-yard line. Then, a defensive pass interference call against Minor put the ball at the Minor two-yard line. Kolby Holt took the handoff and scored a two yard touchdown with 1:40 remaining in the first half. West kicked the extra point, and the score was 14-10 in favor of the Tigers.
Taking over at their own 25-yard line, the Tigers wasted little time marching down the field. After a couple of passes from Burts for 41 yards, the Tigers were in Cullman territory. Burts scrambled on a passing play for 19 yards. Again, the Bearcats forced a fumble with Tucker Willingham recovering the ball on the Cullman three-yard line and the first half ended with the Tigers leading 14-10.
Minor only led by four points with a commanding lead in total offense. Minor had 228 yards in total offense compared to Cullman’s 65 yards in total offense in the first half.
Taking the second half kickoff, Holt had a 47-yard run to get the Bearcats deep inside Minor territory. After six plays, Cullman had fourth down and West lined up to attempt and 33-yard field goal and kicked it through the uprights to close the Minor lead to 14-13 with 8:11 left in the third quarter.
During the next drive, the Tigers suffered several penalties, and Cullman took over at their own 22-yard line. Colvard connected with Ellerbee for 10 yards to end the third quarter. Three plays later, Holt ran for a touchdown 41 yards out, and with the good extra point by West, Cullman took their first lead, 20-14, with 11:00 minutes left in the game.
Taking over on their own 30-yard line, Minor was aided by a facemask penalty by Cullman. Four plays later, the Tigers faced fourth-and-1 at the Cullman 40-yard line. Minor’s Kamari Bell took the handoff, and Cooper McSwain met him in the backfield, tackling him for a loss, and Cullman took over on downs at their own 44-yard line.
With 4:29 left in the game, Minor started their drive on their own 12-yard line. The Tigers overcame a fourth-and-eleven to continue their drive. An apparent touchdown run by Burts was called back by a penalty on Minor. On the next play, Burts completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Bell, and the Tigers would take the lead with the extra point conversion. Burts pass for the two-point conversion fell incomplete and the game was tied 20-20 with 42 seconds remaining in the game.
Cullman was unable to mount a serious drive, and regulation ended with the score tied, 20-20.
Minor took the opening of overtime and on the first play, Burts completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Johnson. Lining up for the two-point conversion, Burts pass to a wide-open receiver was incomplete and Minor had a 26-20 lead.
Starting at the 10-yard line, Cullman’s first play was a running play by Holt for one yard. On the next play, as Colvard was being pressured, Screws got open in the endzone and Colvard found him and completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 26-26. Cullman lined up for the extra point kick with the win on the line. West kicked it through and Cullman had a thrilling 27-26 overtime win.
Cullman improved to 2-1 on the season and 1-0 in the region. Cullman’s homecoming is next week, where they’ll host Mortimer Jordan.
