Tigers back on track, take down Wildcats, 41-7

The Demopolis Tigers got their offense back on track and secured a key area win against the Shelby County Wildcats. The Tigers put 28 points on the board in the first half and tacked on another 13 in the second half. The Tiger defense only allowed seven first half points from the Wildcats, taking the 41-7 win in Columbiana.

The Tigers didn’t get on the board until the 3:16 mark of the first quarter. Craig Nichols crossed the goal line from two yards out and the Cole Wilson PAT put the Tigers up 7-0 over the Wildcats. The first quarter ended with the Tigers holding the ball and the seven point lead.

Peyton Stevenson hit Shatarius Williams on what ended up being a 35-yard touchdown pass with 11:25 to go in the second quarter. Wison’s PAT stretched the Tigers’ lead to 14-0 over the Wildcats. Shelby County answered with their lone touchdown of the night at the 5:57 mark, when James Oliver, Jr. punched it in from four yards out. The Wildcat PAT closed the Tigers’ lead to 14-7.

The Tigers’ wasted little time recovering the 14-point lead when Kyjuan Rhone made it to the end zone on a 2-yard run with 4:19 to go in the first half. Wilson’s third PAT pushed the Tigers’ lead to 21-7. On the ensuing Wildcat possession, C.J. Williams forced a fumble that was recovered by Jim Lawler. Jaqualon Smith added to the Tigers’ lead on a 48-yard run at the 2:22 mark of the second quarter. Wilson connected on the PAT and the Tigers stretched their lead to 28-7 and would hold that lead when the first half ended.

The Tigers picked up in the third quarter, where they left of in the first half. Stevenson found Shatarius Williams for the duo’s second scoring connection of the game with 11:08 to go in the third quarter. The 16-yard scoring pass and successful PAT increased the Tigers’ lead to 35-7. The Tigers added their final points of the night at the 6:15 mark of the third quarter, when Nichols picked up his second score on a 5-yard run. The only unsuccessful PAT of the night left the score at 41-7, in favor of the Tigers.

Lots of clean jerseys got ample amounts of valuable playing time in the fourth quarter, on both offense and defense.

“The goal was to come out and get an important region win. We know how important each game is, leading up to the end of the season, as far as region standings and hoping to host a home playoff game,” head coach Brian Seymore said following the win.

“The best thing tonight was the offense. The offense came around and we ran the ball physically, between the tackles. I think we have an identity now and we know where we want to hang our hats. I was pleased with our effort. I’m proud of our guys and how they played.”

Demopolis piled up 412 yards of total offense on the night, with 364 of those yards coming on the ground, on 36 carries. Rhone was the leader of the ground attack, with 90 yards on seven carries and one touchdown. Stevenson added 75 yards on six carries, Timothy Grayson had 62 yards on two carries and Nichols had 9 carries for 50 yards and two touchdowns. Smith had the single carry for a 49-yard touchdown. Detron Essex, Drew Seymore and Eric Norwood, Jr. each added four rushing yards. Stevenson was 2-4 passing for 51 yards, connecting with Shatarius Williams both times for touchdowns.

The Tigers (4-2, 2-1 region) will take on Central-Tuscaloosa at home next Friday in another region matchup.