Staff Reports
CEDAR BLUFF – North Sand Mountain senior quarterback Landon Keller connected with Christian Davis on a 20-yard touchdown pass in overtime. Keller then found Jackson Burgess on the game-winning 2-point conversion, lifting the Bison to a 21-20 victory at Cedar Bluff on Friday night.
The game marked the return of Cedar Bluff senior running back Hunter Jenkins from injury. Jenkins finished the game 119 yards on 19 carries. He scored the go-ahead touchdown for the Tigers (1-3, 1-1) in overtime on a 10-yard run. The extra point gave Cedar Bluff a 20-13 lead, setting the stage for Keller’s game-winning touchdown toss and 2-point conversion.
Bryson Teague put the Tigers in front in the first quarter on his 20-yard touchdown throw to Caleb Edmondson. The extra point was no good, but Cedar Bluff held a 6-0 lead.
Keller tied the game later in the quarter on a 23-yard scramble run for a touchdown. The Bison (3-1, 1-1) took a 7-6 on the ensuing extra point.
It remained a 7-6 contest until the third quarter when North Sand Mountain’s Alex Luna returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown. The 2-point try failed, keeping the score at 13-6.
Teague connected with Kadien Tracy on a 10-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. The extra point tied the game at 13 and eventually forced overtime.
Teague finished the game connecting on 4 of 7 pass attempts for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
Tracy and Hayden Tucker led the Tiger defense with 10 tackles apiece. Sam Payne finished with eight stops.
Cedar Bluff hosts Section on Friday in another region contest. North Sand Mountain is at Gaston.
NOTE: Cedar Bluff honored the 65th anniversary of their 1959 undefeated Class 1A District 3 state championship team on Friday night. That team outscored its opponents 400-19 en route to the school’s first 10-0 season and state title. The 1959 Tigers were coached by L.D. Bruce.