CULLMAN – The weather delay had no effect on the Cullman Bearcats Friday night as they zoomed past the North Jackson Chiefs 45-14. Week one might’ve been a slow start for the Bearcats’ success, but you wouldn’t know it given how they played this week.
Before the game could even begin, neither team was allowed to take the field because of an almost hour-long lightning delay. Minutes before 8 p.m., officials finally let players and fans in the gates to start the game.
Cullman started with the ball first after a false start on their own 30-yard line. Ezra Burks (11 carries for 81 yards) ran the ball to get their five yards back on the first live action play of the game. QB Fletcher Jennings (17-25, 254 yards) threw to Carson Freeman on the next two plays for a total gain of 11 yards and Cullman’s first down. Jennings showed tremendous momentum both running and throwing the ball all throughout the game. Keeping their eyes down the field, Cullman was determined to score their opening drive and did just that with a 24-yard pass to Dawson Drake, who had two touchdown receptions on the night.
With 10 minutes still left in the first quarter, North Jackson got the ball on their own 20-yard line but had to punt it away after three quick plays shut down by the Bearcat defense. The Bearcats’ second drive was cut a little short after a North Jackson defense held Cullman from reaching their end zone. The ‘Cats managed to come out with a field goal upping the score 10-0 still early in the first quarter.
North Jackson knew they had to react fast in order to stay alive. QB Thadius Harris was quick on the rush after a few short runs from running back Omar Brown, taking it downfield for a TD, keeping it close 10-7.
It was clear early on who the playmakers were for the North Jackson Chiefs. Unfortunately for them, the Bearcats just couldn’t allow a touchdown on their own field without putting up another one their next drive and after an amazing passing gain from Jennings and three straight plays Cullman found the end zone once again, and before you could blink it was 17-7 Bearcats at the end of the first quarter.
An eventful second quarter was underway and Cullman was back at it on their own 8-yard line headed towards the Chiefs’ end zone. A 16-yard carry from Burks gave the Bearcats some breathing room before a 17-yard pass to Burks again put them even closer to midfield. Another 18-yard carry from Burks and finally everyone could see the strategy was paying off as they found themselves inching closer to the goal line, but a holding penalty followed by a block in the back almost shifted the momentum. Somehow they overcame that though and Burks was found once again by Jennings for a 33-yard passing touchdown which put the Bearcats up 24-7 with just under seven minutes left in the second quarter.
North Jackson put their QB at wide receiver for a play to showcase his versatility. The Chiefs went back and forth with runs from Brown and passes from Harris and quickly responded with a rushing touchdown of their own within three short minutes and kept themselves alive 24-14.
A couple more penalties took place against the Bearcats on their next drive as they toned down to the end of the first half. Before the clock could reach zero, though, they hustled down the field with a few rushes and finally a 14-yard pass to Caden Winn for a touchdown just before halftime.
The score was 31-14 as the third quarter ensued. As the Chiefs took over, a noticeably tired Harris took the field for a slow rush play and the Bearcats could smell victory. The Chiefs’ key players, Harris and Brown, had done all they could in the first half and it showed as the Bearcats marched back into the end zone upping their lead 38-14. It was almost completely out of reach now for the Chiefs. They couldn’t advance far enough down field for even a first down and attempted a punt, but had it blocked by the Cullman defense and you could feel the mood in favor of the Bearcats. The last powerful plays for Burks, who rushed 17 yards for the final touchdown, set the lead out of reach 45-14.
As the fourth quarter began fans started to shove out from both sides as everyone knew it was a matter of time now before the Bearcats would add their first win of the season to their numbers. Most of the quarter was running out the clock as the Chiefs had given all they had against the might of Cullman with no luck to slow them down. Cullman released the JV to take the field, and the game was over quickly with a final score of 45-14.
Cullman coach Mark Britton was obviously proud of his team, saying it was a big improvement from game one to two, giving a lot of credit to his offensive line who allowed Jennings room to make his plays.
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