CULLMAN – The lights were on bright at Oliver Woodard Stadium Thursday night as the Cullman Bearcats went to battle with the Falcons of Florence in a state-wide televised game, which was also the home and region opener for Cullman.
The night got off to a very inauspicious start for the Bearcats. Florence won the toss and elected to receive. Cullman tried to use a little trickery and opened the game with an onside kick but the Falcons pounced on the kick and started the first drive of the game with outstanding field position, with the ball on their own 45. It did not take long for them to capitalize as senior quarterback Blake Hawkins zipped a pass down the field into the hands of Dee Smith for a 42 yard pick up and setting the Falcons up with first and goal for the three yard line. Ronald Adams plowed his way in on the next play and Florence jumped on Cullman 7-0 just 24 seconds into the game.
Florence put the ball on the tee ready to kick off up 7-0 but when the put the ball in the air they made one mistake, kicking to the side of the field where Brontae Harris was waiting. Harris took the ball at the six and sped up the middle seam of the field, taking the kick off “to the house” and quickly pulling Cullman even with Florence.
The next series was disastrous for Florence in more ways than one. The Falcons started at their own 32 and immediately pushed into Cullman territory via a Hawkins 11 yard rush, followed by a nine yarder where he took a hit and came up shaking his arm. Two plays later, Adams busted a seam for 20 yards and once again set Florence up in business, but gaining just two yards on the next two plays and a throw by Harris, showing obvious pain, sailed high, Florence settled for a 34 yard field goal off the boot of Edson Cassarrubias to make the score 10-7 in favor of Florence.
The Bearcats relied on the legs of Will Crenshaw on their next possession and he welcomed the challenge, picking up 34 yards in four carries but a costly interception ended the Cullman drive.
When Florence took the field again it was Derrick Thirkhill at quarterback for the injured Harris, however the offense didn’t miss a beat. Thirkhill was five for seven on the drive and helped to push the ball to the Cullman 20 before the drive stalled and Cassarrubias was called on again, this time drilling a 36 yard field goal putting Florence on top 13-7. After stalled drives, penalties and a missed field goal by Florence, the half ended with the score still 13-7 in favor of the visitors.
Cullman received the kick off to open the second half. Taking a page out of Cullman’s book, Florence opted for an onside kick but were unsuccessful in recovering it and Cullman opened the third quarter with the ball on their own 36. Ross Crocker went to the air in the first play and found Maison Goodwin over the middle for a 36 yard gain down to the 18 of Florence. After another pass to Goodwin Cullman found themselves first and goal from the six. It took all four downs but Will Crenshaw finally busted his way through the line for the three yard touchdown run and put Cullman on top for the first time on the night, 14-13.
The Bearcats looked to have some momentum going as Ethan Mcminn ended the next Florence drive with an interception but the offense stalled and they were forced to punt the ball back to the Falcons.
Florence set up shop on their own 26 to begin the drive. Adams picked up a modest four yards on first down then exploded through the line on second down, racing 70 yards for the score. The two point conversion was good and Florence jumped back in front 21-14.
Cullman was forced into a punt situation on their next possession and that did not bode well for the Cats. Florence stormed through the line and took down the scrambling Cullman punter, taking over on the Bearcat 16. Six plays later Kameron Davis took the ball in from eight yards out to make the score 28-14 heading to the fourth.
Both teams flip-flopped possessions in the fourth with neither squad able to gain much of an advantage as time melted off the clock on the way to a 28-14 victory for Florence. Cullman fought hard and made the Falcons earn every inch of every yard they gained but in the end came up just short of the victory.
Photos courtesy of Jimmy “Scoop” Olson
