Tigers cash in on turnovers in 41-20 win
By Staff
Scot Beard
RED BAY – Red Bay rebounded from last week's loss to out-of-state rival Belmont by knocking off cross-county rival Phil Campbell 41-20 Friday night.
The Tigers (5-1, 4-0) had a tight game on their hands through three quarters, but were able to pull away late after capitalizing on some Bobcat turnovers.
"They had four turnovers and were still plus four in the turnover battle," Phil Campbell coach Bo Culver said. "When you turn the ball over eight times against a good opponent, you can't win."
The game seemed to be in Red Bay's control from the beginning when Joseph Reach returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. Chase Lindsey added the extra point to put the Tigers ahead 7-0 15 seconds into the game.
Phil Campbell (1-5, 0-4) drove to the Red Bay 47-yard line on the ensuing drive, but was forced to punt. The Tigers struggled on their next possession as Hunter Childers fumbled the first play and threw an interception to Phil Campbell's Jeff White on the second play.
The Bobcats reached the Tigers 17-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs. Red Bay answered by driving to the Phil Campbell 2-yard line before also turning the ball over on downs when Phil Campbell's Seth Brown tackled Lindsey for no gain on fourth-and-goal.
Phil Campbell committed its first turnover minutes later when Matt Belue picked off a pass from White.
The Bobcats held the Tigers to a three-and-out then drove 87-yards for a touchdown, capped off by a 38-yard pass from White to Dillan Hamby to tie the game.
Red Bay answered on its next possession when Childers finished a 64-yard drive with a 10-yard run to put the Tigers ahead 14-7. Both teams traded turnovers in the final three minutes of the half, but neither team could score before the break.
The Bobcats had an opportunity to tie the game when they drove to the Red Bay 12-yard line, but Dmitri Humphrey picked off a pass from White in the end zone.
On Phil Campbell's second possession of the third quarter, Red Bay's Justin Payne intercepted White on the first play. Two plays later, Phil Campbell's Craig Saint recovered a Red Bay fumble and returned it 53 yards for a score to tie the game 14-14.
Red Bay regained the lead on its next possession by driving 56 yards for the score. Childers finished the drive with a 1-yard run. The Tigers padded their lead with 36 seconds remaining in the third quarter when Lindsey scored on a 6-yard run to put Red Bay ahead 28-14.
Lindsey scored on a 2-yard run with 5:04 remaining in the game, but Hamby returned the kickoff to the Red Bay 1-yard line for Phil Campbell.
White scored on the next play to cut the deficit to 35-20.
Red Bay recovered an onside kick attempt and scored two plays later when Reach carried it in from 23 yards out.
Reach and Lindsey had the bulk of Red Bay's yards as the Tigers only attempted three passes – two were incomplete and one was intercepted.
Lindsey had 134 yards on 20 carries and Reach had 133 yards on eight carries.
Despite throwing six interceptions, White completed 15-of-31 attempts for 235 yards.
Hamby led the Bobcat receivers with 87 yards while Dylan Rice had 71 receiving yards and Matt Waid had 65 receiving yards.
Red Bay travels to Tanner next week for a game that might determine the eventual region champion. Phil Campbell returns home to host Cherokee.
Both games begin at 7 p.m.
