By Amy Thrash, Sports Reporter • amy@southerntorch.com

FORT PAYNE,Ala. — The Fort Payne Wildcats celebrated their Homecoming with a thrilling  31-30 victory over the Mae Jemison Jaguars 31-30. 

At the end of the first quarter, the game was at a standstill with neither team scoring.

In the second quarter with 11:16 remaining, Hunter Love dove in the endzone to put the Wildcats on the board, with a 7-0 lead over the Jaguars. The Wildcats scored again with 1:23 remaining in the second quarter when Darwin Camp punched it in from two yards out, bringing the score to 14-0.  Mae Jemison answered back with :34 remaining in the first half, with  a 56-yard touchdown run. The kick was blocked by Fort Payne’s Cam Thomas.  The WIldcats carried the 14-6 lead into halftime.

 A fake punt set up an 49-yard touchdown run by Mattew Shaddix and gave the Fort Payne Wildcats the 21-6  advantage, with 8:11 left in the third quarter. The Wildcats defense forced a 3-and-out and blocked the Jaguars punt. With 5:55 remaining in the third, Darrell Prater picked the ball for the WIldcats and charged into the endzone, giving the Wildcats the 28-6 lead. Jemison ran up the middle for a 80-yard touchdown run, with 5:43 remaining in the third. The Jaguars went for two to cut the lead to 28-14.

In the fourth quarter with 11:22 remaining in the game, Jemison raced down the middle scoring a 55-yard touchdown.  The 2-point conversion was good to make the score 28-22.  Alex McPherson drilled a 56-yard field goal to give the Wildcats a 31-22 lead with 8:14 remaining in the game. With 4:52 remaining in the fourth, the Jaguars cut the lead to one scoring the last touchdown of the night, 31-30.  TIme ran out for the Jaguars as the Wildcats took a knee on their next possession. 

“We had way too many turnovers, but our defense rose to the occasion and stopped Jemison everytime we turned it over,” said Fort Payne Head Football Coach, Chris Elmore. “ Alex McPherson had another outstanding game, including a 56-yard field goal, that ended up being the winning points. Our offense struggled at times but converted two key 3rd and long plays in the final drive to allow us to run the clock out.”

Fort Payne will take this Friday off, and will travel to Etowah on Sept 27.