Red Bay Tigers complete second-half comeback win

The Red Bay Tigers trailed the Wilson Warriors for much of their game Friday night but in the end came away with a 28-20 win. It was the perfect play-off warmup game for the Tigers, who host Winston County Friday night in the first round.

“We had a very good second half,” said Red Bay coach Michael Jackson. “Wilson was a good team, and it will help us going forward into the playoffs.”

Colbie King was the workhorse for Red Bay, again racking up 172 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 24 carries on the night.

Wilson took an early 7-0 lead with 8:02 to go in the first quarter on a six-yard run.

Red Bay scored midway through the second quarter on a nine-yard run by King. The failed two-point conversion attempt left the Tigers trailing 7-6 with 5:56 to go in the half.

The Warriors extended their lead to 13-6 with one second left on the clock before halftime on a one-yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good.

Red Bay took the lead with 5:42 to go in the third quarter on a two-yard run by quarterback Kolby Bragwell. King ran it in for the two-point conversion to give the Tigers a 14-13 lead.

Red Bay extended the lead to 22-13 early in the fourth quarter on another touchdown run by Bragwell – this one from five yards out. The two-point conversion run was successful by Colin Humphres.

Wilson cut the Tigers’ lead to two points with 8:46 to go in the game on a 60-yard touchdown pass. The extra point made the score 22-20, with Red Bay leading.

The Tigers added another score with 5:44 to go in the game on a 15-yard run by King. The two-point conversion, which could have put the game away, was unsuccessful, leaving Wilson with one last shot to tie the game.

The Tigers defense, led by the team’s leading tackler, Cameron McKinney, held firm in the fourth in a tight game, getting Red Bay a win on Senior Night to close out the regular season.

Humphres carried the ball nine times for 60 yards.

Red Bay ends the regular season 8-2.