Tigers fall just short of comeback against Yellow Jackets

August 28, 2021August 28, 2021 Michael Clements AHSAA, Alabama, Demopolis, football, McAdory, prep, Sports, Tigers, Yellow Jackets

The Demopolis Tigers suffered their second straight loss to open the 2021 season when a pass bounced off the hands of a Tiger receiver in the waning seconds of the Tigers’ loss to the visiting McAdory Yellow Jackets. After falling behind a little over half way through the first quarter, the Tigers clawed their way back to take the lead just before the first half ended, 14-13. The lead changed three times in the third quarter and the Yellow Jackets stretched their lead to 33-22 with 10 minutes to go in the game. The Tigers got their last score with a little over three minutes remaining, but the incomplete pass sealed the Tigers’ fate, 33-28.

After the Tigers won the toss and elected to receive the opening kick, the Yellow Jackets forced the Tigers to punt. The punt and additional illegal block penalty, set up the Yellow Jackets at their own 9-yard line. That field position only proved to provide the Yellow Jackets the opportunity for a 91-yard touchdown drive, which ended on a 1-yard run with 5:02 to go in the first quarter. The PAT failed and the Yellow Jackets took a 6-0 lead.

8-27-2021 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis’ Kelvin Rowser looks for running room against McAdory. (Photo courtesy of Glenda Bradley)

The Tigers scattered in some exciting plays over the next 12 minutes of scoreless football. After the Tigers’ Donald Means, Jr. sacked the McAdory quarterback at the Yellow Jackets’ 5-yard line on third down, Kevin McElroy returned the following punt to the Yellow Jacket 36-yard line. Kenon Rowser made a catch on a fourth down conversion attempt to keep the Tigers’ drive alive, then caught a 25-yard pass from Drew Seymore for a touchdown. The PAT failed, but the Tigers pulled even at 6-6, with 5:29 to go in the first half.

The Yellow Jackets struck back three minutes later and a successful PAT gave McAdory the lead at 13-6, with 2:29 to go in the half.

Seymore connected with Cam’ron Wright on a 20-yard pass play that led to a timeout with 2:00 to go in the half. After the timeout, Seymore found Wright for a 25-yard touchdown pass with 1:55 to go. Matthew Witherspoon got the call for the 2-point conversion try and tacked on the additional points, to give the Tigers a 14-13 lead.

The Yellow Jackets got inside the Tigers’ 10-yard line with under 30 seconds left, but a penalty backed the Yellow Jackets out to the 25-yard line and Demopolis safety Harrison Carroll batted down consecutive passes to end the first half.

8-27-2021 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis’ Cam’ron Wright gets into the end zone against the McAdory Yellow Jackets. (Photo courtesy of Glenda Bradley)

The Tigers opened the second half by kicking to the Yellow Jackets. At the 8:54 mark of the third quarter, the Tigers recovered a Yellow Jacket fumble. Unfortunately, the Tigers fumbled on the very next play and the Yellow Jackets scooped it up and scored, taking a 20-14 lead after a successful PAT.

Demopolis reclaimed the lead a little over three minutes later, when Craig Nichols got into the end zone. Cam’ron Wright was successful on the 2-point conversion run, and the Tigers took a 22-20 lead at the 5:24 mark of the thrid quarter.

The Yellow Jackets answered with a 13-yard touchdown run at the 2:29 mark of the third quarter to take a 26-22 lead after a failed PAT attempt. The quarter ended with that score.

The Tigers’ ensuing possession ended with a punt and McAdory added to their lead with a 47-yard touchdown pass at the 10:06 mark of the fourth quarter. The successful PAT pushed the Yellow Jacket lead to 33-22.

After a stalled drive, the Tigers forced a turnover on downs with 7:07 to go in the game. After the Seymore-Wright connection provided the Tigers with a fourth down conversion to keep their drive alive, it also provided a score when the tow connected on another fourth down conversion that resulted in a 15-yard touchdown pass. The 2-point try failed, but the Tigers closed the Yellow Jacket lead to 33-28 with 3:27 to go.

The ensuing onside kick attempt was almost recovered by the Tigers, but it was ruled that the ball did not travel the required 10-yards before being touched by a Tiger player. The Tiger defense provided the Tigers their final opportunity of the night when Grey Sharpe recovered a Yellow Jacket fumble with 1:41 to go.

8-27-2021 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis’ Grey Sharpe brings down a Yellow Jacket ball carrier as Brody Osburn (61), Donald Means, Jr. (44) and Demetrius Allen (4) close in. (Photo courtesy of Glenda Bradley)

A completion to Wright, a pass interference penalty and a catch by Jaytavion Scott put the Tigers at the 13-yard line with under a minute to go. After taking their final timeout, the Tigers faced yet another fourth down conversion attempt with 25 seconds to go. Unfortunately for the Tigers, a pass bounced off the hands of an open Tiger receiver at the 5-yard line and the chance for a comeback win fell short. The Yellow Jackets ran out the clock to take the win, 33-28.

Statistically, Seymore ended the night with 13 completions for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Wright had 7 cathes for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Kenon Rowser had three catches for 34 yards and one touchdown. Montgomery Freeman, Jaytavion Scott and Demetrius Allen tallied one catch each. Freeman’s catch went for 28 yards, Scott’s for 11 yards and Allen’s for 5 yards.

Nichols had 15 carries for 61 yards and one touchdown, while Kelvin Rowser added six rushes for 35 yards.

The Tigers (0-2) will host the Central-Tuscaloosa Falcons next Friday at Tiger Stadium, in a region matchup.