Colts buck Red Bay with a pair of late touchdowns in 21-8 win
By Staff
Scot Beard
RED BAY – For the second straight year Red Bay's hopes of a region title have been dashed by back-to-back losses to Tanner and Clements.
The Tigers led Clements for most of the game, but a pair of late touchdowns by the Colts sent them on to a 21-8 victory.
"We played well enough to win, but we made a few mistakes," said Red Bay coach Dale Jeffreys. "We were in the red zone three or four times and didn't score."
The Tigers (5-3, 4-2) opened the game with a 55-yard scoring drive that ended when Joseph Reach scored on a running play from the 1-yard line on fourth-and-goal. Red Bay opted for the 2-point conversion because kicker Chase Lindsey missed the game with an injury and Reach again punched the ball into the end zone to give the Tigers an 8-0 advantage with 4:32 remaining in the first quarter.
The Red Bay defense held Clements (5-3, 4-2) in check in the first half, limiting the Colts to only one first down and 23 total yards in two possessions.
The Clements defense also played strong after the Tigers' opening drive. The Colts' Lamac Askins returned an interception 62 yards for a touchdown and Bronson Warren added an extra point to cut the Tigers lead to 8-7 with 9:55 remaining in the second quarter.
Both teams struggled to move the ball in the third quarter.
Clements opening drive of the half ended when Kevin Hastings picked off a pass for the Tigers, but the ensuing Red Bay drive died when the Tigers turned the ball over on downs at the Clements 22-yard line.
Clements was forced to punt again, but Red Bay could not take advantage as another Tiger drive ended on an incomplete pass on fourth down at the Clements 19-yard line.
The Tiger defense came up big again, forcing another three-and-out, but another Red Bay turnover gave the Colts the ball at their own 35. Five plays later Clements took its first lead of the game when Jonathan Franklin scored on a 20-yard run to put the Colts ahead 14-8 with 5:54 remaining in the game.
This time the Colts defense forced a three-and-out and the Clements offense responded with a five-play, 86-yard touchdown drive capped off with a 56-yard run by Brandon Sanderfer with 1:24 to play.
Sanderfer then intercepted a Hunter Childers pass on the first play of Red Bay's drive to allow the Colts to run out the clock.
Clements claimed the final playoff spot in Class 2A, Region 8 with the win.
Red Bay finishes its region schedule next week when it travels to Lexington. The game begins at 7 p.m.
