Phil Campbell fights hard, comes up short at Colbert Heights
Phil Campbell’s Dylan Rice tries to elude a trio of Colbert Heights defenders Friday during the Bobcats 34-27 loss. | Scot Beard/FCT
TUSCUMBIA — Trailing by seven with one second remaining Phil Campbell had one shot at the end zone to tie the game, but the pass was intercepted near the goal line to seal a 34-27 victory for Colbert Heights.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Bobcats who had a few miscues in the opening quarter that led to scores for Colbert Heights.
“We gave them two touchdowns. We gave them two and we lose by a touchdown,” said Phil Campbell coach Bo Culver. “You can’t give them points like that.”
The first of those scores came when the Wildcats blocked a Phil Campbell punt to set the offense up with a short field. The second came when the snap went over the head of the quarterback and Colbert Heights recovered the ball in the end zone to take a 14-0 lead.
Phil Campbell cut into the deficit when Corey Alexander scrambled for a 2-yard touchdown run with about eight minutes to play in the second quarter.
Colbert Heights answered moments later with a 58-yard scoring pass.
The Bobcats’ offense pushed the ball back down the field and capped a 72-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard run by Craig Saint to reduce the Colbert Heights lead to 21-14.
The Wildcats returned the ensuing kick off 82-yards for a touchdown to reclaim a 14-point advantage.
With 35 seconds remaining in the second quarter Alexander threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Jake Dill to move the Bobcat back within seven points.
Colbert Heights added another touchdown in the third quarter.
Phil Campbell put together a 61-yard drive deep into Wildcat territory, but was unable to put any points on the board. The drive reached the Colbert Heights 6-yard line, but Alexander’s pass fell incomplete on fourth down.
The Wildcats drove to the Phil Campbell 32-yard line on the ensuing drive, but a running play that lost six yards and a sack by Jeremiah Malone, who led the Bobcats with five tackles, put Colbert Heights in a third-and-24 situation. After an incomplete pass, the Wildcats punted.
Facing first-and-20 from the Phil Campbell 10-yard line, Alexander found Dylan Rice for a 41-yard gain and a few plays later hit Jordan Benford with a 25-yard pass.
Alexander completed the drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Andy Landers on fourth-and-goal with 2:35 remaining in the game. Saint’s point after attempt was wide, leaving the Bobcats with a 34-27 deficit.
The Phil Campbell defense stopped the Wildcats and got one more possession with 58.6 seconds to play.
Alexander completed passes of 11,12 and 13 yards to move the Bobcats to midfield to set up the dramatic deep pass.
He completed 17-of-29 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns. His only interception came on the final play.
Saint was the leading rusher with 67 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries.
Benford caught six passes for 74 yards to lead the Bobcat receivers while Dill caught three passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.
Phil Campbell hosts its first home game of the season next week against Lamar County.
