Staff Reports

SAND ROCK – Kane Robison gained 120 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns, including a game-winning 1-yard score in the fourth quarter, lifting the Sand Rock Wildcats to a 27-24 football victory over Whitesburg Christian on Friday.

The win, coupled with North Sand Mountain’s 48-27 loss at Susan Moore and Cedar Bluff’s 28-21 loss at Donoho, clinched the third playoff seed from Class 2A Region 7 for the Wildcats (5-5). They will travel to Vincent (8-2) on Friday for the first round of the state playoffs. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Friday’s game between Sand Rock and Whitesburg Christian was a back-and-forth affair. The Warriors (4-6) took an early 3-0 lead on Ryan Kretz’s 27-yard field goal in the first quarter. Robison put Sand Rock out in front 7-3 with his 30-yard touchdown run later in the quarter.

Whitesburg Christian regained the lead with a touchdown in the second quarter. The Warriors extended their advantage to 17-7 on Tobin Jaeger’s 2-yard touchdown run, but Sand Rock cut its deficit to two following Alec Ashley’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Gatlin Cox. The Wildcats went for two and were successful, making it a 17-15 game at halftime.

Ashley finished the game going 9 of 19 passing for 132 yards and a touchdown.

Cox gave the Wildcats the lead again in the third quarter with his 23-yard touchdown run. The Wildcats tried another 2-point conversion but were unsuccessful, keeping the score at 21-17.

Cox carried the ball 10 times for 49 yards and a touchdown. He also had four catches for 76 yards and a score.

The Warriors closed out the third-quarter with a 36-yard touchdown run, giving them a 24-21 lead.

That set the stage for Robison’s 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth for the final.

Kaleb Robinson led the Warriors by completing 10 of 18 pass attempts for 140 yards. Jaeger finished with 32 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown.