Scottsboro’s season lives on as Raeuchle’s late field goal sends Cats to 5A semifinals

Story By Jason Bowen

“Black Friday Football” is coming to Scottsboro.

Cole Raeuchle kicked three field goals — including a last-minute game-winner — Scottsboro turned in a stingy defensive effort and the Wildcats put together a fourth-quarter drive that will live forever in SHS Football lore during a 16-14 Class 5A state quarterfinal win over No. 4-ranked and previously undefeated Fairview Thursday night at Fairview’s Dafford Smith Stadium. 

“It wasn’t pretty. Didn’t play well. Missed a lot (of opportunities), and (had) penalties that cost us points…but we just kept on keeping on. That’s a credit to the culture that those kids are building,” said second-year Scottsboro head coach Tyler Vann. “I’m proud for them. They deserve it.”

It’s Scottsboro’s first state semifinal appearance since 1997 and its second all-time since the AHSAA instituted a five-round playoff system in 1984. 

It’s also the first time the Wildcats will host a semifinal-round game. Scottsboro (9-4) hosts the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal game between No. 2 Moody and Briarwood Christian in the Class 5A state semifinals next Friday, Nov. 28 at Trammell Stadium. The state semifinal winners advance to play in the AHSAA Super 7 Football Championships at Protective Stadium in Birmingham Dec. 3-5. The Class 5A state championship game is Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.

Region 8 champion Scottsboro struggled to run the football against Region 7 champion Fairview (12-1), getting just 49 yards each from Jacobi Edmondson and Jayden Gilbert. But sophomore quarterback Colton Harding finished 19-of-31 passing for 256 yards while Conner Vaden caught six passes for 97 yards, Cohen Thompson had three catches for 90 yards, Gilbert had four catches for 33 yards, Edmondson had three catches for 21 yards and Theron Miles had three catches, all during the Wildcats’ winning drive, for 15 yards.

Scottsboro had a Harding-to-Edmondson touchdown pass wiped out by a penalty on its first drive, leaving the Wildcats to settle for Raeuchle’s 32-yard field goal. The Wildcats’ second possession began with a flea flicker play resulting in Harding finding Thompson for a 68-yard pass and ended with Harding’s pitch pass to Vaden for a 6-yard touchdown. Raeuchle’s extra point gave Scottsboro a 10-0 lead with 13 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Fairview cut the Scottsboro lead to 10-7 thanks to an 80-yard scoring march capped off by quarterback Kolt Redding’s 6-yard touchdown with 7:48 left in the half. The Aggies intercepted a Scottsboro pass inside the 10-yard line on the Wildcats’ ensuing possession, but after a long return, Fairview missed a field goal. Scottsboro began its ensuing series with a 43-yard pass from Harding to Vaden, which helped set up Rauchle’s 35-yard field goal with 6 seconds left in the half that gave the Wildcats a 13-7 halftime lead.

After forcing Scottsboro to go three-and-out to start the third quarter, Fairview took a 14-13 lead on Jake Harper’s 6-yard touchdown run — Redding’s 38-yard run was the key play of the drive — with 7:03 left in the third quarter. 

The Wildcats’ next possession ended in an interception, but the Scottsboro defense again rose up and forced Fairview to turn it over on downs at the Scottsboro 13-yard line. 

After the teams traded punts, Scottsboro regained possession with 9:13 remaining, starting a 17-play, 60-yard drive that took 7:48 off the clock. Harding completed his last eight passes during the drive, including three straight to convert third downs.

“He made some big plays down the stretch — read it right,” Vann said of the sophomore. “They were giving us the underneath stuff, taking away (Vaden deep), and we were getting what he could get. I’m proud of him. He’s come a long way. Made some great throws for us.”

Scottsboro ultimately faced a fourth-and-short from the Fairview 11-yard line, and Vann sent out Raeuchle, who booted what proved to be the game-winning 27-yard field goal with 1:25 remaining.

“I was close to going for it to keep (Fairview) from getting the ball back, and (Fairview) does a good job at blocking field goals,” Vann said. “But I trusted him, trusted us to block it up and he made a big kick. Three field goals, a big one in that situation at the end. Proud of him.”

Raeuchle said he was glad to come through for his team.

“I was a little nervous, but I trusted my training,” he said. “I just thought about what I was supposed to do. I was ready for it. Got a good snap and hold, got it down and it went through. It felt good.” 

Fairview never really threatened to score on its last possession, and Scottsboro players rushed the field to celebrate after the game’s final play.

“Black Friday Football in Scottsboro for the first time ever,” Vann said. “We’re excited to keep playing. We’re going to try to find a way to win another one and get into that championship game.”