By Marla Jones, Sports Editor • marla@southerntorch.com (Photo by Kristy Gallagher)

FYFFE, Ala. — The Fyffe Red Devils shutout the Cleveland Panthers 63-0 in the first round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 2A State Playoffs.

The Fyffe Red Devils started their assault early on the Panthers scoring on a 52-yard stampede into the endzone by Payton Anderson, with 9:30 remaining in the first quarter. With 8:05 remaining in the first, the Red Devils cashed in on a Panther mishap.  Cleveland punted from their endzone and dropped the snap.  Wyatt Goodwin landed on the ball for the Red Devil score.  Fyffe added more points to the board, on a 33-yard quarterback keeper by Zach Pyron.  Anderson hauled in the 2-point conversion to give the Red Devils the 20-0 lead with 5:47 remaining in the first.  Anderson then bulldozed his way down the field for 52-yards and Pyron brought in the 2-point conversion to go up 28-0 with 3:25 left in the first.  The Red Devils finished their first quarter scoring frenzy with a 12-yard touchdown run by Ike Rowell, giving the Red Devils the 28-0 advantage over Cleveland at the end of one.

Malachi Mize started the Red Devil off, with 9:29 remaining in the second, on a 32-yard hustle.  The PAT was good and Fyffe jumped to the 42-0 lead.  Fyffe closed out the half with a 4-yard dash into the endzone by Jake Stone.  The kick by eighth grader Yahir Balcazar gave the Red Devils the 49-0 advantage going into intermission.

The second half featured a running clock and 8-minute quarters. With 4:50 remaining in the third quarter, Tyler Machen scored for the Red Devils, on a 65-yard touchdown run.  The kick by Balcazar was good.

With 7:03 remaining in the fourth, Will Stephens scored the last Red Devil touchdown , on a 35-yard run.  The PAT by Balcazar was good.

Fyffe held Cleveland to 43 total offensive yards.

Anderson led the Red Devils with 132 yards and two touchdowns.

Fyffe (11-0) will travel Friday to take on the Colbert County Indians (8-3).