Despite a performance that put Chelsea tailback Davin Palmer over the 1,000 yard mark this season, the Chelsea Hornets suffered their first defeat of the year 49-33 to the Chilton County Tigers.

The loss came amid the fanfare of homecoming last Friday. But Chelsea head football coach Wade Waldrop said the credit goes to Chilton County, which was well coached and well prepared.

He said his Hornets made too many mistakes and had been fortunate those mistakes had not hurt them in previous games.

The Hornets could never quite catch up to their visitors. But as this was a non-region contest, the now 4-1, 5A Hornets remain unblemished at 3-0 in region play.

While Chelsea struck first on a 6-yard Davin Palmer run and Matt Jordan kick, the Tigers of Chilton County answered with four touchdowns of their own.

The Hornets&8217; David Strider scored on a 1-yard run with Jordan kick only to be answered by 38-yard air strike for a touchdown by the Tigers.

Palmer and Strider returned fire with scores on runs of 53-yards and 1-yard respectively. But Chilton County answered with a 49-yard touchdown run of their own.

Strider would score the final touchdown for Chelsea on a 1-yard burst. But that was answered with a 27-yard bomb for yet another Tiger touchdown.

In the end Chilton County pounded the Hornets for 279 yards on the ground and 157 through the air for 436 yards total offense.

Chelsea managed 81 yards via the pass the 162 yards on the ground for 243 yards total offense.

Coty McLaughlin completed six of 14 passes for 81 yards but was intercepted three times.

Palmer had a respectable night running the ball for 174 yards on 19 carries for two touchdowns. That plus the 891 yards he had going into Friday night&8217;s contest puts him at 1,065 yards for the season.

Strider had 10 carries for 49 yards and three touchdowns.

The Hornets go on the road to face a regional opponent in the Anniston Bulldogs this Friday night