ETOWAH, Ala. – The Bearcats were back on the road Friday night to finish up the regular season with a non-region matchup at Etowah and they looked sharp in a 31-7 win over the Blue Devils.
A big run by Tyler Owens and a big gain on a screen pass to Wyatt Buchanon moved the ‘Cats deep into Etowah territory on their first possession and took a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter after Garrett Mobley knocked through a 24-yard field goal. After forcing a Blue Devils, Cullman wasted no time adding to its lead. Ryan Skinner took a QB keeper off right tackle and sprinted 81 yards all the way to the end zone for a touchdown, putting the Bearcats in front 10-0 with just over five minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
The ‘Cats picked up big chunks of yardage on the ground with the option on their next possession and a 20-yard completion from Skinner to Nate Zills got the Bearcats down to the 1-yard line. One play later, Owens punched it into the end zone from a yard out to make it a 17-0 game with 30 seconds to play in the first. Cullman’s next drive was a methodical one. The ‘Cats held the ball for most of the second quarter and capped off the drive with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Skinner to Zills. Mobley’s extra point gave the black & gold a 24-0 advantage with about six minutes left to play in the first half.
The Bearcats maintained that 24-0 lead going into the halftime break.
Etowah was finally able to get some points on the board with a touchdown pass early in the third quarter that made it a 24-7 game but the ‘Cats defense kept the Blue Devils out of the end zone the rest of the night. A touchdown run by L.J. Turner was called back by a penalty and a touchdown reception by Zills was ruled out of bounds so at the end of three, Cullman led Etowah 24-7.
The Bearcats forced the Blue Devils to turn the ball over on downs early in the fourth quarter and after a deep pass to Zills was caught inside Etowah territory, Owens scored from a yard out to stretch the lead to 31-7 with just over seven minutes remaining in the game. The Blue Devils threatened to score again late in the fourth quarter, but Cullman held them out of the end zone once again to secure a 31-7 victory over Etowah.
The Bearcats finish the regular season with a 7-3 record, and they’ll be off next week before traveling to Gadsden City for the first round the 6A State Playoffs Nov. 4.
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