Tigers swat Yellow Jackets for 34-14 win
After five winless efforts, stretching back to 1989, the Demopolis Tigers traveled to McCalla on Friday and came home with their first win over the McAdory Yellow Jackets. After battling to a 7-7 tie in the first half, the Tigers outscored the Yellow Jackets 27-7 in the second half to take the 34-14 win.
Both teams swapped multiple possessions in the first quarter. The lone Tiger highlight of the first quarter of play was a diving interception by Peyton Stevenson. The opening quarter ended scoreless.
The Tigers got on the board first when Tyler Drake hit Price Smith in the end zone on a fourth down conversion. The scoring pass officially covered 9-yards and the successful Cole Wilson PAT gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 5:07 to go in the second quarter.
After a Harrison Carroll fumble recovery and a Demopolis punt, the Yellow Jackets got into the end zone when McAdory’s Cameron Shepherd hit Jervontae Gray for a 30-yard TD pass. The PAT conversion knotted the score at 7-7 with 25 seconds remaining in the half.
After receiving the opening second half kick, the Tigers wasted little time finding the end zone again. With 9:16 to go in the third quarter, Kelvin Rowser punched it in from 4-yards out. Wilson’s PAT gave the Tigers a 14-7 lead.
With 2:10 to go in the third, Carroll crossed the goal line with a 41-yard interception return. The PAT gave the Tigers a 21-7 lead over the Yellow Jackets. The third quarter would end with no more points being put on the board by either team.
After a Jay Jones interception, Drake connected with Camron Wright on a 28-yard scoring pass. The PAT attempt was blocked and the Tigers lead increased to 27-7 with 7:29 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Yellow Jackets struck back two minutes later when McAdory’s Shepherd connected with Cameron Harris for a 41-yard scoring catch-and-run. The PAT closed the Tiger lead to 27-14 with 5:29 to go in the game.
Rowser put the game out of reach when he scored his second touchdown on a 19-yard run with 1:25 to go. Wilson’s PAT set the final score for the Tigers’ 34-14 victory over the Yellow Jackets.
“I’m proud of our players. We had a good week of practice and our guys were locked in,” said head coach Brian Seymore. “We’re making strides and there’s always room to get better. I feel like our defense played outstanding, outside of two plays.”
“We showed up and played. We wanted to go out and play hard, play fast and our players did that.”
Demopolis (2-0) will travel to Tuscaloosa to take on Central (1-1) next Friday night.