Demopolis falls to Hillcrest in regular season finale

A late interception doomed Demopolis’ final comeback hopes in a 21-13 loss to Class 6A Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa Thursday night.

After the Tigers forced a stop to get the ball back with 2:20 to go, Jordan Robertson picked off a pass and returned it 26 yards to the Demopolis 4 with only 2:03 left on the clock, allowing the Patriots to run one play and ice the game with kneel downs.

Hillcrest took the lead with 5:59 to play in the third when Joshua Mayhand caught a 23-yard Riley Nix pass for a score. The Keanua Gueler extra point put Hillcrest up 14-13. Hillcrest later added a 25-yard touchdown run by Torrian Riley with 2:56 to go in the third quarter, stretching its lead to 21-13.

“I think Hillcrest made some adjustments. We still had plays available to us. We just didn’t make those plays. I think our defense played well enough to win,” Demopolis coach Tom Causey said. “We’re not making plays when we’ve got to make them. Some of those are forced by the opponents. I don’t want to take anything away from Hillcrest. They are a dang good football team.”

Demopolis took the advantage into the half after Demetrius Kemp returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown to put the Tigers up 13-7.Hillcrest scored the game’s opening touchdown in the first quarter when Charles Bester Jr. found the end zone on an eight-yard run.

Demopolis evened the score with 4:27 to go in the second when Tucker Jones hooked up with Rodney Harper for a 25-yard touchdown pass.

Riley led all rushers with 85 yards on 12 carries. Harper paced the Demopolis offense with 76 yards on five catches. Kemp had 10 total tackles in addition to his interception return score for Demopolis.

Demopois (8-2) hosts Sylacauga in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs next week.