Red Devils claim first win
By Bart Moss for the FCT
The Vina Red Devils got their first win of the season on their last game of the season at Tharptown Friday night, 14-7.
Braden Moomaw leaped into the air in the back of a dark end zone with outstretched hands and came down with a touchdown pass from Blake Hardin that would seal the Vina win.
“What a great feeling,” said Vina head coach Jason Harris. “These kids have worked hard for this moment. I am so happy for them. We’ve been needing some young guys to step up, and tonight they did in a big way.”
Vina scored first midway through the first quarter on an 8-yard touchdown run by Blake Hardin to give the Red Devils a 6-0 lead.
Midway through the second quarter Vina made what could have been a costly error. The Red Devils, facing fourth down deep in their own territory, went for the first down. An errant snap dropped Vina for a big loss to their own 20-yard line, where Tharptown would take over on downs.
The Wildcats cashed in on the Vina mistake when Carson Petree hit Nathan Lucas for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Jovany Gomez added the PAT to give the Wildcats a 7-6 lead.
Both teams were scoreless in the third quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter, however, the Red Devils mounted a drive deep into Tharptown territory. Tharptown’s defense stopped Vina’s momentum inside the 10-yard line, forcing a fourth-and-goal from the 9-yard line. That’s when Hardin found Moomaw in the back of the end zone for the winning touchdown.
Just a few seconds after the touchdown pass, a fast-moving cold front swept through the area, bringing heavy rain and a quick drop in the temperature. The final minutes of the game became a sloppy affair as some fans rushed for the exits and some waited to see if there would be another big play.
Vina freshman Dawson Miller intercepted a Tharptown pass late in the game to seal the win and end the Red Devils’ season on a positive note.
“Nobody really understands how huge that win was for us,” said Harris. “It gives these young kids something to look forward to next year. It was a big step in our growth process.
“I thought it was fitting that Braden, a 10th-grader, caught the winning touchdown pass. And Dawson Miller, a freshman, made the late interception. They are the future of our program.”
Tharptown will play a final game Thursday night at Decatur Heritage.
