Red Bay ends season with win

By Bart Moss / For the FCT

The Red Bay Tigers jumped out to a 14-0 lead over the Cherokee Indians in route to a 22-14 win in the final game of their 2017 season Thursday night.

“I thought we played our most complete game of the year,” said Red Bay coach Michael Jackson. “We had a very solid night defensively, holding Cherokee to less than 150 total yards and picking off three passes.  Our kids played hard tonight. It was a big senior night win for us.”

Aaron Lewey scored first for the Tigers on a five-yard run to give Red Bay a 6-0 lead. Lewey scored again early in the second quarter, running the ball in from the seven-yard line. The Tigers converted the two point conversion to extend their lead to 14-0.

Cherokee scored two touchdowns in the second quarter to knot the game at 14-14 by halftime.

Red Bay scored what would be the winning touchdown with 8:34 to go in the third quarter on 14-yard pass from Kolby Bragwell to Luke Rooker. The Tigers converted the two-point conversion, giving them a 22-14 lead.

Lewey was the workhorse for the Tigers, carrying the ball 36 times for 161 yards and two touchdowns.

Bragwell completed two of seven passes, one of which was the winning touchdown to Rooker, who caught both passes.

Red Bay outgained Cherokee 304 yards to 121 yards. The Tiger secondary had a big night, picking off three Cherokee passes.