Vinson propels Red Bay to 29-28 win

The Red Bay Tigers held on for a nail-biting 29-28 victory over the Winston County Yellowjackets.

The Tigers’ offense, led by the dynamic duo of Jaxon Vinson and quarterback Jeremiah Thorne, overcame a strong second-half push by the Yellowjackets to secure the win.

The Tigers started strong, dominating the first half. After a crucial defensive stand, Thorne connected with Davien Colburn on a 40-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring.

Following another defensive stop, Vinson broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown run, putting Red Bay up 14-0 by the end of the first quarter.

Winston County found its footing in the second quarter, scoring to make it 14-8 at halftime.

Red Bay’s offense exploded again in the third quarter. Vinson once again showcased his speed, breaking free for a 61-yard touchdown run.

Not to be outdone, Thorne added his own score on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. The Tigers also capitalized on twopoint conversions with Thorne and Colburn each snagging key catches to extend their lead to 29-20.

Winston County, however, refused to quit, putting up a fierce fight in the fourth quarter. The Yellowjackets clawed their way back, narrowing the gap to a single point. With time ticking down, Red Bay needed to make a final stand. The Tigers’ defense held strong, and on a gutsy fourth-and-inches call, Thorne ran a quarterback sneak to run out the clock and seal the 29-28 victory.

Vinson had 23 carries for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns and added 12 tackles on defense.

Thorne had 4 carries for 9 yards and 1 touchdown. He was also efficient through the air, completing 5 of 6 passes for 1 touchdown.

Colburn had 3 catches for 53 yards and 1 touchdown, plus a crucial twopoint conversion catch.

Jaxson Swann had 2 catches for 42 yards and added a strong defensive performance of 6 tackles and 2 forced fumbles.