CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to pull within 2 points of Parker Friday night, but the Thundering Herd answered with 16 fourth-quarter points to finish with a reported 42-24 victory in Class 5A, Region 5 play.
The Bearcats trailed 26-7 before their rally brought them within 26-24 entering the fourth quarter.
According to Cullman’s MaxPreps scorekeeper, Morgan Holley caught a 35-yard touchdown pass during the third quarter. A successful extra point cut Parker’s lead to 26-14.
Cullman followed with a fumble-return touchdown and another successful kick to make it 26-21.
The Bearcats then took over at Parker’s 44-yard line following a turnover on downs and added a field goal to close the gap to 2 points.
Parker regained some separation early in the fourth quarter when Tayler Smith scored on an 11-yard run. A successful 2-point run extended the advantage to 34-24.
The Thundering Herd later added a 13-yard touchdown pass and another 2-point run to reach the final margin.
Parker led 12-7 after the first quarter. The scorekeeper also credited Cullman’s Parker Berry with a second-quarter interception and Parker’s Keilen Wheeler with an interception during the third quarter.
The reported result leaves Cullman 2-6 overall and 1-5 in region play. Parker, ranked No. 2 in Class 5A in this week’s Alabama Sports Writers Association poll, moves to 8-1 overall and 6-0 in the region.
Cullman travels to Jackson-Olin on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. before closing the regular season at West Morgan on Thursday, Oct. 29.
