Staff Reports
CEDAR BLUFF – Cedar Bluff senior Hunter Stallings has battled his way back from a leg injury he suffered back during the Tigers’ second game of the football season against Collinsville. He’s been playing sparingly the past couple of weeks, but on Friday night against intra-county rival Sand Rock, Stallings was thrust into a larger role following an injury to Bryson Teague.
Stallings was back behind center, where he ran for 105 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown. He also completed 3 of 6 pass attempts for 102 yards, but it was his interception on defense near the goal line in the closing minute of the game that helped seal Cedar Bluff’s 28-26 victory.
The win ended a three-game skid for the Tigers.
“He’s really went through it this year, and for him to bounce back says a lot about his character,” Cedar Bluff coach Garrett Crane said. “We’re so proud of who he is and for what he does.
“We didn’t expect to put Hunter back in this capacity, this role this quickly, but he’s been working a ton of reps and working his butt off. He’s been doing everything in terms of rehab and therapy, doing all the extra stuff to get his body right. He’s been going through the preparation at practice for an opportunity.”
For Stallings, Friday night was that opportunity, and he certainly didn’t disappoint.
“Sand Rock put together a really good drive at the end. We got them backed up throwing to the back side, and Hunter makes a big play on it,” Crane said. “We were going to run a sneak (out of the end zone), then they go off-sides. We pick up a first down, take two knees and that was it.”
Stallings’ return may have saved the Tigers’ season. The win puts them in firm position for a playoff berth. Cedar Bluff improved to 3-6 on the season, but more importantly evened their region record at 3-3.
Following Friday’s win, the Tigers now hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Sand Rock (3-5, 2-3) for the final playoff spot in Class 2A Region 7.
The Wildcats, who have now lost four in a row, still have a region game to go with Gaston this coming Friday. Cedar Bluff has a bye this Friday before ending the regular season at non-region opponent Donoho on Nov. 1.
“We could’ve easily folded up, but it says a lot about our kids’ character to show up and put in the work,” Crane said. “They understand there’s a path out there for us to be able to extend our season and give our seniors another opportunity.”
Sand Rock took momentum in the game early on. Gatlin Cox scored on a 46-yard touchdown run to give the Wildcats’ a 6-0 advantage in the first quarter.
Cedar Bluff responded with Teague’s 4-yard touchdown run to tied the game at 6.
Sand Rock quarterback Alec Ashley put the Wildcats back out in front with his 2-yard scoring run. The Wildcats went for 2 but failed on the attempt, keeping the score at 12-6.
Hunter Jenkins gave Cedar Bluff its first lead late in the first quarter on his 45-yard touchdown run. The 2-point conversion was good, giving the Tigers a 14-12 advantage.
The Tigers extended their lead in the second quarter on Kadien Tracy’s 5-yard touchdown run. With another successful 2-point try, Cedar Bluff led 22-12 at halftime.
An Ashley-to-Gavynn Cunningham 8-yard touchdown pass and successful 2-point conversion in the third quarter brought the Wildcats within two at 22-20, but Cedar Bluff extended its advantage back out to 28-20 on Stallings’ 13-yard touchdown run near the end of the third.
Sand Rock’s Ryker Woodall intercepted Stallings and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it 28-26.
The Wildcats looked as if they would take the lead on their final drive of the game, but Stallings’ heroics prevented that from happening.
“It really came down to one or two plays,” Crane said. “It was a traditional game between Cedar Bluff and Sand Rock.”
Jenkins led Cedar Bluff with 129 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown.
Ashley completed 11 of 27 pass attempts for 103 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a score to lead the Wildcats. Cox added 54 yards on three carries with a score.