Red Devils fall to Brilliant Tigers

J.R. Tidwell/FCT Drake Hester (12) returns an interception against the Brilliant Tigers Friday night at Vina. Hester made the interception in the end zone.

VINA — Despite getting off to a good start, things went from bad to worse for the Vina Red Devils, who fell to the Brilliant Tigers 45-14 in a non-region game.

Vina got the first score of the game and led for most of the first quarter, but Brilliant scored 45-straight points to take the win.

We got bunged up,” Vina head coach James Pharr said.

“We had three eighth graders playing for us, which is tough.

“I admire the effort of Andrew Hester and Cody Renfrow for playing hurt and wanting to keep playing.”

It took the Red Devils just under six minutes to put the first points of the game on the board.

Drake Hester made a run around the right side of the line that went for 44 yards and a touchdown. Andrew Hester hit the point after, and Vina led 7-0.

The Red Devils tried an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but the ball was recovered by the Tigers.

One play later Brilliant scored on a quarterback run around the end that went for 56 yards.

The Tigers missed the PAT, and Vina retained a 7-6 lead with 6:27 remaining in the first quarter.

Brilliant pinned the Red Devils deep during their next possession and blocked a punt, giving them the ball on Vina’s 7 yard-line.

The Tigers punched the ball into the end zone and picked up a two-point conversion to take  14-7 lead they would not relinquish.

Brilliant went on to score 31 more points in the game before Vina got its last touchdown, a short run by Drake Hester with 3:11 remaining in the game.

The Red Devils are now 0-5, 0-3 region on the season.

Vina will host a Class 1A, Region 8 opponent in the Hackleburg Panthers next Friday night.