JASPER, Ala. – The Cullman Bearcats made the trip down 69 to take on the Jasper High Vikings in a Region game on Thursday as the AHSAA Game of the Week on TV. The Vikings maintained constant pressure on Cullman, defeating the Bearcats 31-6.
The Vikings took the opening kickoff and quickly drove deep into Cullman territory. Facing a fourth-and-5 at the Cullman 26-yard line, Jasper quarterback Carmello Hudson’s pass was incomplete and the Bearcats took over on their own 26-yard line.
After hard running by Weston Keel and a 13-yard pass from Clayton Colvard to Samuel Ellerbee, Cullman was on the Vikings’ 29-yard line. On fourth down, Cullman lined up for a 39-yard field goal attempt. The attempt was no good, and Jasper took over on their own 20-yard line.
The Vikings overcame a couple of holding calls and completed a 9-play drive when Hudson completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Keanu Anderson. The point after was good and with 0:09 seconds left in the first quarter, Jasper had a 7-0 lead.
A 32-yard kickoff return by Tucker Willingham had the Bearcats looking to answer the score by Jasper. A sack on Colvard cut the drive short and Cullman quickly had to punt.
Aided by an unsportsmanlike penalty against Cullman, the Vikings took over near midfield. Again, Jasper overcame penalties and completed an 8-play drive when Warren Coger scored on a 12-yard touchdown run. With 4:36 left in the first half, Jasper extended their lead to 14-0.
Willingham exceeded his previous kickoff return when he ran the ball for 81 yards and had the Bearcats on the Jasper 15-yard line. Six plays later, Carson Stancil scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. The point after was no good and the score was 14-6 with 1:31 left in the first half.
A 47-yard pass completion had the Vikings looking to add to their score before the end of the first half. With eight seconds left in the half, Jasper lined up for a 55-yard field goal. Oliver Mosley kicked the ball between the uprights. The first half ended with the Vikings leading 17-6.
The third quarter started with both teams having to punt on their first drives. Jasper’s punt pinned Cullman on their own 1-yard line. The Bearcats were unable to sustain the drive and punted the ball to the Vikings.
Aided by another Cullman penalty, Jasper had the ball on the Cullman 21-yard line. Three plays later another touchdown pass by Hudson, and the Vikings extended their lead to 24-6.
Cullman’s fourth quarter drive stalled on a fourth-and-8 when Colvard’s pass was incomplete.
Jasper’s next drive was 10 plays and ended with a Cedrick Vincent 9-yard touchdown run and the final score was 31-6, Jasper.
Cullman travels to Gardendale next week to take on the Rockets on Friday night.
