CULLMAN, Ala. – The Bearcats opened up the 2023 season at home on a hot, humid Thursday night against perennial 3A power Mars Hill and after boing blow for blow with the Panthers throughout the first half, Cullman wasn’t able to continue that pace in the second half and dropped the season opener 55-21. Trenton Clemmons picked off a Panthers pass and ran it back 30 yards for a touchdown just before halftime to cut Mars Hill’s lead to 28-21 at the break but the ‘Cats were outscored 27-0 in the second half, allowing the Panthers to pull away with the win.
Mars Hill scored on a 40-yard touchdown pass just a few minutes into the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead but the Bearcats responded with a scoring drive of their own. Some nice runs by Reagan Ogstad and a couple completions from quarterback Preston Gay to receivers Wyatt Buchanon and JC Ellerbee drove Cullman’s offense down to the 5-yard line. Two plays later, Jackson Sessions punched it into the end zone from 5 yards out to get the ‘Cats on the board and Garrett Mobley’s extra point tied the game at 7 with less than a minute remaining in the opening period.
After the Panthers answered with another touchdown pass early in the second quarter, making it a 14-7 game, an interception cut the next Cullman possession short and set up a short field for Mars Hill. A 4-yard touchdown run extended the lead to 21-7 a few plays later and after a big return on the ensuing kickoff by Buchanon, the Bearcats turned the ball over on downs with a little over eight minutes to play in the first half. The Panthers were forced to punt on their next possession and the ‘Cats capitalized on the defensive stop, capping off a scoring drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Buchanon that trimmed the lead to 21-14 with three minutes remaining in the second.
Unfortunately for the home crowd, it didn’t take long for the Panthers to get those points back. A 24-yard touchdown pass just 90 seconds later put Mars Hill back in front 28-14 with 1:30 on the clock in the first half and Cullman’s ensuing possession ended with another interception. However, the Bearcats got a big play from Clemmons when he jumped in front of a Panthers pass and returned it 30 yards the other way for a touchdown, cutting Mars Hill’s lead to 28-21 at the halftime break.
The ‘Cats got the ball to start the second half but were forced to punt it away. The Panthers capped off their first possession of the third quarter with an 8-yard touchdown pass and stretched their lead to 35-21 midway through the period. Mars Hill scored on the ground from 18 yards out to make it a 42-21 game going into the fourth quarter and continued to pull away in the final frame. The Panthers added a 47-yard touchdown pass and a 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth to wrap up a 55-21 road win over the Bearcats.
Offensively, Buchanon had a big night for the ‘Cats, hauling in 11 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown in the loss. Gray completed 17 of his 28 passes for 183 yards, a touchdown and a pair of interceptions. Ogstad led the way on the ground with 22 yards on eight carries and Rex Chandler added 18 yards on five carries.
Cullman will now look to refocus its attention and bounce back in a big road game at Jasper next Friday night.
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