TRINITY, Ala. – Cullman pulled within 8 points in the third quarter, but West Morgan scored twice in the fourth to hand the Bearcats a 35-13 loss in Friday night’s nonregion season finale.
Cullman finished 3-7 overall after completing its Class 5A, Region 5 schedule at 2-5. The Bearcats had been eliminated from playoff contention before Friday. West Morgan improved to 7-3.
An early interception gave Cullman possession at the West Morgan 25-yard line. The Bearcats followed with a rushing touchdown, but the extra point failed, leaving Cullman ahead 6-0.
West Morgan answered with two touchdown runs by Jabarie Wiggins. Kolton Kritinar added both extra points to put the Rebels ahead 14-6, according to the MaxPreps scoring log.
Brantley Phillips then connected with Will Smith for a second-quarter touchdown. Kritinar’s extra point extended West Morgan’s lead to 21-6, the halftime margin.
Cullman supplied the only points of the third quarter when Wynn Shannon threw a touchdown pass to Nelson Hollingsworth. Ismael Esteban added the extra point, cutting the deficit to 21-13 entering the fourth.
The Bearcats could not complete the comeback. Kylen Stover scored on a fourth-quarter run, and Kritinar’s extra point made it 28-13.
Colby Jones intercepted a Cullman pass before Stover added another rushing touchdown. Kritinar supplied his fifth extra point for the 35-13 final.
Wiggins and Stover accounted for four of West Morgan’s five touchdowns, with two rushing scores apiece.
The loss ended Cullman’s bid for consecutive road victories following last week’s 42-13 win at Jackson-Olin.
West Morgan finished 6-1 in Class 4A, Region 7 and will host a first-round playoff game Nov. 6 as the region’s No. 2 seed.
