Red Bay varsity scores 5 TDs in 35-6 win over Belmont
By Staff
Stephen Moore
RED BAY – Red Bay's triple-threat Tigers debuted Friday night in a victorious jamboree home game against cross-state rival Belmont (Miss.) at Fred Bostick Jr. Memorial Stadium.
The 35-6 win was marked by the return of the passing assault from Tigers senior quarterback Anthony Horton, who missed most of 2006 with ACL injuries, Josh Senkbeil's slashing runs and the all-purpose everything of Pablo Makepeace, a senior kicker, runner and receiver.
Red Bay senior running back Cody Armstrong returned the opening kickoff to the Tigers' 45-yard line, where Belmont's Gage Smith brought him down. Senkbeil soon stormed in from the Cardinal 21 for the game's first score with 8:35 to go in the first quarter. Makepeace, who was 5-of-5 for PATs, nailed the pigskin between the goalposts to make it 7-0 Red Bay.
Belmont drove into Tiger territory on the ensuing possession, but the Cardinal drive stalled when Kyle Bennett was stopped at the line of scrimmage on fourth down with 4:04 left in the quarter. Red Bay took over on downs, but a dropped Horton pass resulted in Belmont's only touchdown at 2:42, and the missed PAT left the score 7-6.
Senkbeil powered the ensuing Tiger drive, which was highlighted by a 25- yard sprint by the senior running back. Horton hit Makepeace in the end zone to make it 14-6 with 44 seconds left in the first.
Belmont stalled on its next possession when Red Bay forced a punt. After five hard-hitting plays, the Tigers scored on a Horton-to-Armstrong pass to make it 21-6 with 8:38 left in the two-quarter game.
Red Bay gradually pulled away with a Senkbeil interception of Cardinal quarterback Josh Harrison. The pick set up the next score, which made it 28-6. Horton, who finished 6-of-8 with three touchdowns and no interceptions, hit junior receiver Caleb Collins with a bullet from 14 yards out with 2:16 to play.
A Belmont fumble led to the last score when sophomore defensive back Dustin McCarthy recovered the fumble to score the touchdown with just over a minute remaining.
Junior varsity players for both teams took the field in the second half, with Belmont winning a hard-fought revenge game 6-0.
Red Bay finished with nine first downs, 229 yards of total offense (154 rushing, 75 passing) and no punts, with just three penalties for 30 yards.
Belmont managed just two first downs and 65 yards of total offense, with no penalties and two punts for 63 yards.
The Tigers are at home again next week when they face Shoals Christian for their official season opener.
