Tigers claim first regional title since 2019
The Red Bay Tigers asserted their dominance on the gridiron Friday night, crushing the Decatur Heritage Eagles with a decisive 50-9 victory that officially crowned them Class 2A, Region 8 champions.
The title is the first for the Tigers since 2019 and marks the 14th region championship in the storied history of the program.
The Tigers’ performance was a masterclass in aggressive defense and an unrelenting groundand pound offense, leaving the Eagles scrambling from the opening whistle.
Red Bay jumped out to an early 14-3 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back, heading into halftime with a commanding 28-3 advantage.
The second half was more of the same as the Tigers offense exploded for 22 unanswered points in the third quarter to push the score to 50-3. While Decatur Heritage managed a late touchdown, the game was long decided, ending in the 50-9 final.
The cornerstone of the Tigers’ victory was the explosive play of running back Jaxson Thorne. Thorne delivered a stellar individual performance, carrying the ball 16 times for 257 yards and finding the end zone four times. Remarkably, Thorne wasn’t just a force on offense; he also pitched in seven crucial tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
The Tigers’ ground game proved unstoppable, showcasing the depth of their backfield. Five other runners combined for 10 carries and 103 yards, contributing three additional touchdowns. Andre Brownlee, Jeremiah Thorne, and Joshua Thorne each punched in one touchdown, highlighting a complete team effort.
With the victory, the Red Bay Tigers improved their record to 7-1 overall and remain perfect in regional play at 4-0. The regional title ensures the Tigers will host a firstround playoff game, but first, they will look to close out their regional schedule undefeated.
Red Bay is set to face Tanner next Friday night in their final region game.
In other games:
• Phil Campbell lost to Gordo 43-22. The Bobcats couldn’t stop the potent rushing attack of the Green Wave, who amassed 388 yards on the ground on 33 carries. Phil Campbell had a more balanced attack with 158 yards rushing and 163 yards passing. Hayston Scott led with 16 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown. Scott also completed 18 of 28 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
Austin Elliott had five catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. Chandler Benford had six catches for 45 yards and a touchdown. Hagen Raper caught four passes for 50 yards.
Madden Welch led the defense with eight tackles. Ethan Hallman had seven tackles. Braxton Downey and Hagen Raper had six tackles each.
The Bobcats will host Hanceville on Friday night to close out region play and secure a playoff spot.
• Tharptown lost to Winston County 77-6. The Wildcats will close region play at home against Lexington.
• Vina forfeited to Addison. Vina will travel to Meek on Friday to close out region play.
• Belgreen was off last week. They will play Victory Christian on Friday night.
