Amy Thrash, Sports Reporter
FORT PAYNE, Ala.-- The Gadsden City Titans defeated the Fort Payne Wildcats, 34-10 Friday night.
Gadsden City put points on the board first with an 18-yard screen pass making the score 7-0 with 10:09 left in the first quarter. The Titans intercepted the Wildcat football and returned it to the Wildcats 2-yard line. With 8:22 remaining in the first, the Titans punched it in for the touchdown, giving them the 14-0 lead. Alex McPherson nailed a 40-yard field goal to put the Wildcats on the board to bring the score to 14-3 with 3:31 remaining in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, McPherson attempted a 46-yard field goal but failed. With 3:40 remaining in the second Gadsden City lined up for a 33-yard field goal to stretch their lead to 17-3. Gadsden City hit another 33-yard field goal to make the score 20-3 at the half.
In the third quarter with 10:35 remaining, the Titans attempted a field goal but failed. Gadsden City intercepted the ball for the second time of the night and took over at the Fort Payne 39. At the end of the third quarter, the Titans were leading 20-3.
To start the fourth quarter Gadsden City punched it in to make the score 27-3 with 11:14 remaining. The Titans, CJ Miller ran up the middle for the touchdown making the score 34-3 with 3:56 left in the fourth quarter. Fort Paynes Alex Akins scored from 2-yards out to make the final score 34-10.
“Gadsden City is a very talented team. Unfortunately, we turned the ball over twice early and gave them a quick 14-0 lead,” stated Head Football Coach Chris Elmore. “I thought we competed well with them for the next 3 quarters, but we had created too big of a hole for us to overcome. I was very proud of the effort and passion that our defense played with all night.”
The Fort Payne Wildcats will host the Arab Knights in regional play on Friday night.
