Vina suffers close loss, 13-8
By Slade Gilmer for the FCT
Late turnovers deep in Southeastern territory doomed Vina to a 13-8 loss to the Blount County school in the Red Devils’ season opener Aug. 28.
The game, which featured a nearly one-hour lightning delay, saw the Mustangs jump out to an early 13-0 lead, but the Red Devils defense – which shined in a 30-0 victory over Tharptown in a preseason game the week before – shut down the Southeastern offense throughout the second half. The lightning delay began in the third quarter at around 8:45 p.m. The game didn’t end until well past 10 p.m.
“After the lightning delay, we came out fired up and scored eight quick points,” said Vina coach Luke Childers. “We played really well in the second half.”
Vina had several chances late but was unable to cash in. The Red Devils turned the ball over four times inside the red zone in the second half and kept Vina from avenging a 27-6 loss to Southeastern in 2014.
Tanner Miller accounted for the Red Devils’ points in the game, scoring on a 10-yard run in the third quarter and adding the two-point conversion to make the score 13-8.
The Red Devils (0-1) will open Class 1A, Region 8 play when they travel to Waterloo to take on the Cougars (1-1). Vina beat Waterloo 40-6 last season. The Cougars have defeated the Alabama School for the Deaf and fallen to Woodville.
