Bart Moss

For the FCT

The Colbert Heights Wildcats were playing for the memory of a fallen teammate Friday night.  Those memories led a motivated Wildcat football team to a resounding 46-20 victory over the Phil Campbell Bobcats.

One year removed from the accidental shooting death of teammate and friend Jessie Rainey, the Colbert Heights football team emerged from the pre-game locker room with tears in their eyes and heavy hearts ready to play.

“It’s an emotional night for these guys,” said one Colbert Heights coach.  “Jessie is not very far from their hearts and minds right now.”

It was the Phil Campbell Bobcats, however, that got into scoring position first. Michael Stone intercepted a Wildcat pass and returned the ball to the Wildcat nine-yard line. The Bobcats failed to capitalize going four-and-out.

On the next drive the Wildcats completed a 46-yard pass to the Bobcat 27-yard line. Two plays later they scored on designed run from 26 yards out to make the score 6-0 with 3:10 to go in the first quarter.

The Wildcats would score again early in the second quarter on a one-yard run to make the score 12-0.

The Bobcats would threaten again in the second quarter when Payton Thomas hit Nick Smith in stride for a 43-yard gain to the Wildcat 11-yard line. Once again, however, the Bobcats were unable to penetrate the end zone.

Colbert Heights would go on to score 39 points in the first half of play and blanking the Bobcats.

Phil Campbell was able to put some points on the board in the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats cut the score to 46-8 on a two-yard run by Trey Knowles with eleven minutes to go in the final stanza.

The Bobcats scored again with 9:37 to go on a 20-yard pass from Thomas to Tristen Godsey to make the score 46-14.

Phil Campbell’s final score came with 3:54 remaining on 50-yard touchdown run around right end by Colby Baker to make the score 46-20.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Bobcats, still looking for their first win, as they travel to the second-ranked Tanner Rattlers next week.