Red Bay falls to Colbert Heights in opener
By Bart Moss for the FCT
When the trend is fast-paced, high-scoring offenses, a defensive battle is usually a welcome sight for football fans. Red Bay and Colbert Heights were locked in on such a battle Friday night. Scoring opportunities were hard to come by. In the end, the Wildcats were able to topple the Tigers 14-6.
Red Bay Coach Michael Jackson said he sees the loss as a learning experience for his young team.
“I was proud of the effort our guys gave,” said Jackson. “We had nine new starters tonight. We made a ton of mistakes, but they were correctable mistakes.
“We missed assignments and had too many costly penalties. We turned the ball over twice, but we didn’t fumble, so that was good.”
Both teams were scoreless at the end of the first half. Colbert Heights scored, but the touchdown was called back because of a penalty. Red Bay was knocking on the door of the endzone just before the end of the half, reaching the Colbert Heights 12-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs.
“Both teams played a great defensive first half,” said Jackson. “We missed some opportunities, and we will just have to learn from it and get better.”
Colbert Heights opened the second half with a game-changing 59-yard kickoff return to the Red Bay 18-yard line. The Tigers couldn’t keep the Wildcats out of the endzone this time, as Dylan Chandler scored five plays later on a one-yard run, giving Colbert Heights a 7-0 advantage after the PAT.
After a Red Bay turnover at midfield early in the fourth quarter, Colbert Heights drove the distance and scored, taking a 14-0 advantage.
Red Bay responded on the ensuing drive, taking the ball 67 yards in five plays, with the big play being a 46-yard touchdown pass. The pass from Kolby Bragwell to Luke Rooker came with four minutes left in the game. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Tigers trailing by eight 14-6.
Facing a clock disadvantage, Red Bay tried an onside kick and recovered the ball. The Tigers couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity, however, throwing an interception on the next play at the Colbert Heights 47-yard line.
The Tigers got one last opportunity when Ethen Meier recovered a Colbert Heights fumble at their own 29-yard line. Red Bay was able to drive the ball to the Wildcat 35-yard line before ending the drive on another interception with just over one minute to play in the game.
Bragwell was 7-for-16 passing for 133 yards, one touchdown pass and two interceptions on the night. Bragwell also carried the ball 11 times for 58 yards. Aaron Lewey had 22 carries for 68 yards. Rooker caught four passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.
The Tigers outgained the Wildcats despite the loss 282 yards to 146 yards.
“We will get back to work and keep teaching our guys,” Jackson said. “I know they will learn from this, and we will get better.”
Red Bay will travel to Tharptown Friday night.
