By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor
COLUMBIANA – In a battle of the top teams in Class 5A, Region 3, the Shelby County Wildcats found themselves unable to answer the Demopolis Tigers on either side of the field.
Demopolis powered its way to a 35-8 win over Shelby County on Oct. 4 at Papa McCombs Stadium and took first place in the region as a result.
The Tigers used a potent ground game and a stifling defense that limited the Wildcats both in the air and on the ground to hand Shelby County its second-straight loss.
Demopolis kicked off the scoring with a 6-yard rushing touchdown midway through the first quarter, establishing a 7-0 lead that the visitors would not relinquish.
The Tigers run game continued to hurt the Wildcats in the second quarter. A 39-yard touchdown run doubled Demopolis’ lead to 14-0 with 9:10 left in the half. Two minutes later, the Tigers housed a carry from 74 yards out, which left the halftime score at 21-0.
However, Shelby County responded in the second half by getting on the scoreboard for the first time all night, threatening to flip the momentum on its head.