Originated from DeKalb, GEORGIA
Trophy, top seed lost by Fort Payne
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The Top Cat Trophy — sponsored by the Times-Journal and the Scottsboro Daily Sentinel — also changed hands in Fort Payne’s first loss to Scottsboro (5-4, 4-3) in four years in the 73rd meeting between the two teams. Scottsboro clinched the region’s final playoff spot with the win.
“My hat is off to them,” Fort Payne coach Paul Ellis said. “We just didn’t do enough to get it done. I’m not making any excuses. They just beat us. They did a great job.”
Trailing 17-14 through the third quarter, Fort Payne regained the lead on a 7-yard touchdown run up the middle by quarterback Kyle Crabtree. A 30-yard pass from Crabtree to Akeem Appleton two plays earlier set up the touchdown.
On its next possession, Scottsboro executed a 10-play, 51-yard drive that ended with Deuantae Johnson scoring from 9 yards out to give the Wildcats a 24-21 lead with 1:58 left.
Fort Payne’s last possession started on its own 20. A pass from Crabtree to Kyle Conkle gained 8 yards. But on fourth and 2, running back Blake Smith was stopped a yard short and Scottsboro took over with 1:22 left.
“I think they limited our big plays,” Ellis said. “They have a huge quarterback and a big running back and just kept irking out first downs. That’s the mark of a good team.”
Fort Payne started the game by taking its first drive 80 yards on 14 plays. The drive was capped off by Appleton going the final 1 yard for the touchdown.
Scottsboro took advantage of an interception that set up a 33-yard Jay Benson field goal early in the second.
Midway through the second, Fort Payne recovered a Scottsboro fumble on its 30-yard line that set up a 32-yard touchdown pass from Crabtree to Smith.
On its next possession, Scottsboro managed a nine-play, 73-yard drive that ended with a 17-yard touchdown run by J.J. Smith to cut the lead to 14-10.
On Fort Payne’s next drive, just before the half, Scottsboro’s Zachary Mardis blocked a punt and scooped it up on the 1-yard line as he headed into the end zone. The touchdown gave Scottsboro a 17-14 lead at the half.
Fort Payne will finish the regular season against Gadsden on Friday in Fort Payne.
“We’ve got a tough Gadsden City left to play,” Ellis said. We’ll have to get our kids well this week and come out with a good game plan.”
Crabtree finished the game completing 16 of 31 passes for 155 yards. Appleton had 131 total yards.
Originally written by Jared Felkins, The Times-Journal
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