CULLMAN, Ala. – After cruising past Brewer last week, the Cullman Bearcats were back home at Oliver Woodard Stadium Friday night for another matchup with their rivals from Hartselle. The Tigers were coming off three straight high-scoring performances against Columbia, Decatur and Woodlawn but their offense had its hands full with the Bearcats this week. Cullman went into the locker room leading 7-0 at halftime and continued to make things tough on Hartselle’s offense in the second half but after a big fourth down conversion in the final minute of the game, the Tigers kicked a field goal as time expired to escape with a 10-7 win.
Both teams exchanged punts to start the game, but a Bearcats interception gave the ball back to Hartselle with great field position. Cullman’s defense held strong and kept the game scoreless at the end of the first quarter. The ‘Cats drew first blood early in the second quarter when Cooper Loftin punched one into the end zone from a yard out to put Cullman in front 7-0. Hartselle was unable to get any points on the board in the first half and the Bearcats went into the locker room leading 7-0 at the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Tigers converted a fourth down through the air to move into the red zone midway through the fourth. A few plays later, a 7-yard touchdown pass tied the game at 7 with just five minutes to play.
Cullman picked up a big third down conversion when quarterback Preston Gay hit Cooper Ogstad over the middle on third and 14 to move the chains but the ‘Cats were forced to punt the ball away a few plays later. Facing fourth down and 10 with less than a minute on the clock, the Tigers completed a pass deep down the middle of the field to Cullman’s 3-yard line. Hartselle ran a couple plays to eat up as much clock as possible before lining up for a 30-yard field goal. The kick split the uprights as time expired and the Tigers edged out the Bearcats in a hard-fought game, 10-7.
Cullman falls to 3-4 with the loss and will be back home next week for another region game with Columbia.
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