CULLMAN, Ala. – On a perfect night for football, the Cullman Bearcats hosted the Buckhorn Bucks in Cullman’s final regular season game at Oliver Woodard Stadium. The teams went back and forth with the lead and Cullman failed to tie the score on the final play of the game and the Bucks left Cullman with a 14-7 victory.
Cullman took the opening kickoff and assisted by a horse collar penalty against Buckhorn, had the ball at their own 42-yard line. A Preston Gay pass to Cooper Ogstad was completed for 29 yards and Cullman looked to be ready to score. After three plays, Cullman was facing a fourth-and-nine from Buckhorn’s 28-yard line. Cullman tried a trick play by passing the ball backwards to Landon Pitts whose forward pass fell incomplete.
The Bucks took over at their own 28-yard line. Featuring hard running by Shamarion Landrum, Buckhorn got within field goal range. As they attempted to kick a go-ahead field goal, Tyler Brock blocked the kick and William Collicott picked up the ball and returned it for 25 yards. An unsportsmanlike penalty got Cullman to their own 46-yard line. On the third play of the series a 49-yard touchdown pass was completed to Colton Borden. The PAT was good and with 58 seconds left in the first quarter, the Bearcats took a 7-0 lead.
Both teams struggled to get their offenses going and penalties plagued both teams as the second quarter ended with no additional scores. The first half ended with Cullman leading 7-0. Cullman completed the first half with 83 total yards compared with Buckhorn’s 136 total yards.
The second half began with both teams going three-and-out as neither offense could get going. Buckhorn began their second possession at midfield. Seven running plays between Landrum and Justin Sumlin completed the touchdown drive as Landrum scored on a two- yard run. With the PAT good, the Bucks tied the game at 7-7 with 5:08 left in the third quarter and that was the score entering the fourth quarter.
Buckhorn continued their drive from the third quarter at their own 15-yard line. Aided by a defensive pass interference against Cullman, Buckhorn drove 85 yards for the touchdown as Sumlin completed a five-yard touchdown pass to Myles Anglin. The PAT was good and with 6:42 left in the game Buckhorn led 14-7.
Both teams were unable to get a first down in the next two possessions and Cullman got the ball on their own 15-yard line to set up a potential drive to either tie or win the ballgame. A 16-yard pass from Gay to Brock and 16 yard run quickly got the Bearcats to midfield. Three plays later, Cullman was facing a fourth-and-three at the Buckhorn 46-yard line. Facing fierce pressure, Gay found Brooks Loftin for a 28-yard pass and a first down to Buckhorn’s 18-yard line. An 11-yard pass from Gay to Hudson Wilhite put Cullman at the Buck’s 7-yard line.
On the next play, Gay was hurt on an incomplete pass. It appeared that Gay had completed the comeback as he completed a touchdown pass to Wilhite on the next play, but Cullman was penalized for an illegal substitution, wiping out the touchdown. Four plays later, Cullman faced a fourth-and-goal from the Buckhorn five-yard line. Gay was pressured and couldn’t get the pass off and the Buckhorn held on for the 14-7 win.
Cullman completed its regular season and will be preparing to enter the AHSAA playoffs on Nov. 8. Cullman will have to travel and face a 6A Region 5 team.
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