Red Bay’s Austin Childers chases the Red Raiders’ Dorryl Swanigan during Friday night’s game. Photo by Keith Ledbetter.

By Keith Ledbetter

For the FCT 

With only a two-point lead going into the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the Red Bay Tiger defense turned back a Red Raider drive on a fourth down turnover at Red Bay’s 37 yard line.

The Tigers were able to mount a scoring drive while eating up clock time to take a 48-38 win over Marion County this past Friday night.

“What a great job by our team to come back after losing two and win eight in a row,” Tiger head football coach John Ritter said.

The Tigers had already nailed down the number two slot in Region 8 after they defeated Lexington in game eight. This Friday’s win ended their regular season and improved the Tigers’ record to 8-2, and 6-1 in region play for 2013.

“I’m very, very proud of these seniors,” Ritter added.

“Hopefully we’re only getting started and that needs to be the mindset of ours kids. Now the real fun and our second season begins.”

The 86-point game saw the lead change four times as Red Bay went up by two touchdowns early in their Friday senior night game against the Red Raiders of Marion County. The Tigers’ Matt Senkbeil scored both TDs, one from 50 yards out and also one from the 21 yard line.

Red Bay’s first quarter 12-point lead was cut short after Marion County connected on a touchdown pass to Nick Gardner from Red Bay’s 25. The Red Raiders two-point conversion left the Tigers with only a four point 12-8 lead.

Marion County advanced 15-12 on a touchdown pass from quarterback Dorryl Swanigan to Wesley Payne in the second quarter.

Just minutes later Red Bay’s Austin Childers broke open a 46-yard TD run, and also added the two-point conversion to give the game lead back to the Tigers to make it 20-15.

Near the end of the first half, the Red Raiders’ Swanigan carried the ball in on fourth and goal from Red Bay’s six to lead the Tigers at halftime, 23-20.

Marion County stretched their lead to 10 points midway through the third making the score 30-20, but Red Bay’s Austin Childers added his second TD of the night minutes later on a 55-yard run to cut the Red Raiders’ lead by four to make it 30-26.

With just over one minute remaining in the quarter, Marion County’s quarterback connected with Peyton Wates for a TD and a 38-26 lead.

Red Bay took advantage of a fumble recovery by Taylor Weclowski at the beginning of the fourth quarter and mounted a scoring drive that took just one play. Childers added the TD run around the left side, and Tiger quarterback Troy Borden took in the two point conversion to cut the Red Raiders’ lead to four, 38-34.

Red Bay’s Senkbeil gave the Tigers a four-point lead on a TD run with 8:27 remaining in the game.

Red Bay’s defense stopped the Red Raider’s final drive after tackling Swanigan short of the first down marker on fourth and 11 at the Red Bay 37. Quarterback Borden sealed the win for Red Bay on a 24-yard TD run and the two-point conversion.

Red Bay will open post-season play this Friday, Nov. 8 and will host round one of the AHSAA 2A state playoffs at Fred G. Bostick Jr. stadium.

The Tigers will match up against Region 6’s Walter Wellbourn from Anniston.