By STEPHEN DAWKINS / For the Reporter

CLANTON – Visiting Shelby County High dominated the line of scrimmage in the third quarter to turn a 0-0 halftime score into a 21-12 win over Chilton County High Friday night.

The Wildcats racked up nine first downs – and 167 rushing yards – in the third period to no first downs for CCHS.

“It wasn’t a matter of not knowing what they were going to do,” said CCHS coach Steve McCord, who added that the visitors’ rushing success should not have been a result of a tired Tigers defense.

McCord said the absence of senior defensive lineman Derrick Lykes, who, along with receiver and defensive back James Mays, was injured in last week’s loss to McAdory, could have been a factor.

Both teams squandered scoring chances in the first half.

The Wildcats (2-2 overall, 1-2 in region play) took over on the CCHS 7-yard line after a muffed punt, and junior running back Darion Sutton took a first down carry to the 1. But Sutton was stopped for a loss on second down, Chilton County’s Demario Parker broke up a third down pass and Kendrick Woods and other CCHS players stopped Shelby County quarterback Braton Dill behind the line of scrimmage on an option play to the left side to force a turnover on downs.

On Shelby County’s next possession, Greg Collins intercepted Dill on the Wildcats’ 30-yard line and ran it back to the 18 with 1:50 left in the half.

Tyler Patterson found Tracy Bailey for 13 yards on the first play, but the Tigers (2-2, 1-2) then went in reverse and ended up turning it over on downs.

The second half saw more excitement, which began when Shelby County’s Tyrone Buie scored from 7 yards out to cap off an 85-yard drive, and Kevin McNorton’s extra point made it 7-0.

Chilton County’s Ryan Williams answered on the very next play from scrimmage with a 62-yard touchdown jaunt despite the defense grabbing his facemask. A personal foul on CCHS after the score pushed the extra point try back to the 18-yard line, and it was missed. Williams finished with 116 yards on 11 carries, while Gary Davis had 50 yards on 10 carries.

But Buie ripped off a 53-yard touchdown run on his team’s next possession, resulting in a 14-6 lead, and the home team never recovered.

The Wildcats added a 10-yard touchdown pass from Dill to Daniel Watkins with 17 seconds left to make it 21-6.

The home team showed quick strike capability, though, as Patterson hooked up with Woods for a 46-yard touchdown as the clock ran out.

Shelby County travels to Calera Friday to take on the Class 3A Eagles.

football: shelc