Staff Reports

CEDAR BLUFF – After building a two-touchdown lead at halftime, the Cedar Bluff Tigers had to hold off a furious Winterboro rally in the final 10 seconds to escape with a 22-20 victory in the high school football season opener for both teams on Friday night.

The Bulldogs (0-1) took the lead on a fake field goal on their first drive of the game. Deonte Smoot scored on a 1-yard run. The try for two was successful, giving Winterboro an early 8-0 advantage.

Carter Dillingham connected on a 24-yard field goal to put the Tigers (1-0) on the board and make it an 8-3 game.

Cedar Bluff then tried some trickery later in the first quarter on a double pass from quarterback Bucky Leek to Eli McFry for a 40-yard touchdown. The extra point was no good, but the Tigers were out in front 9-8 after a quarter.

Cedar Bluff accounted for the only two scores in the second quarter. Leek connected with Kade Browning on a 27-yard touchdown pass, then Leek ran in for an 8-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 22-8 halftime advantage.

Leek finished with 60 yards on 13 carries. He also completed three passes for 77 yards. Browning led the Tigers in rushing with 66 yards on 10 totes.

Winterboro accounted for the only scores in the second half. Smoot had an 8-yard touchdown run in the third and Keyveon Curry had a 6-yard touchdown catch with just seconds to go in the fourth to bring the Bulldogs within two points. The Tiger defense denied Winterboro the game-tying 2-point conversion for the final.

Cedar Bluff hosts county rival Sand Rock on Friday. Winterboro hosts Vincent.