Red Devils survive late scare for 20-19 victory

By Cindy Orrick

VINA — Tharptown provided some late game drama at Vina Friday night, but it was the Red Devils that made the final stand and walked off the field with a 20-19 victory.

Trailing by seven points in the closing seconds Tharptown quarterback Brandon Cothrum found Nathan Gray for a touchdown as time expired. Wildcat coach Bill Smith decided to go for the 2-point conversion and the win, but the attempt failed.

Tharptown led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter thanks to a touchdown pass from Cothrum to Jacob Parker.

Vina answered early in the second quarter with a 6-yard scoring run by Adam Pharr. Pharr’s point after kick failed, leaving the Wildcats clinging to a 7-6 lead.

Pharr scored again with 11 seconds remaining in the second quarter with a 3-yard run. The 2-point attempt failed and the Red Devils took their first lead of the game 13-7.

Vina extended its advantage with a 3-yard run by Ethan Hammock and a 2-point pass from Nick Schmittou to Clay Pierce.

The Wildcats cut into the deficit with a touchdown pass from Cothrum to Timothy Bryant with 4:35 remaining in the third quarter.

Hammock finished the game with 20 carries for 109 yards. Pharr had 14 carries for 82 yards and Channing Haithcock had three carries for 20 yards.

Schmittou led the Red Devils with nine tackles while Haithcock added seven and Pharr and Joseph Barksdale recorded six each.

Vina travels to R.A. Hubbard next week while Tharptown travels to Waterloo.