By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



The Fultondale Wildcats used a fourth quarter comeback to record their third straight road win on Thursday night. Fultondale (3-0, 2-0), trailing 18-15 entering the final period, used two short touchdown runs in the final minutes to take a 29-18 lead and held on for a 29-24 win over Falkville (2-1, 1-1) in a 2A, Region 5 showdown.

The win came after the Wildcats fell behind for the first time this season and they eventually trailed in the contest for a second time before coming back to win.

“I’m so proud of these kids, I can’t put it into words,” Fultondale head coach Keith Register said. “I thought we might lose our composure. In the past when we got behind, it was basically over. But our kids came back fighting. It’s a good thing we got behind tonight, because we really became a team and pulled together and fought back to win.”

The Wildcats struck first for a 7-0 lead on 18-yard scoring run by quarterback LaKendrick Smith. Chris Carlsen added the point-after with 2:35 left in the opening quarter.

After a Falkville punt, the Wildcats had the ball again but the Blue Devil’s defense caused a fumble, recovered the ball and returned it 20 yards for a score. The attempt for a 2-point conversion failed and Fultondale lead by one at 7-6.

After a Fultondale punt, the home team took a 12-7 lead on a 41-yard pass from Jonathan McNatt to Steven Lindsey. The piont-after attempt failed.

The Wildcats answered back with long touchdown pass. Smith used a play-action fake to give halfback C.J. Mixon time to get open, Smith then hit Mixon in stride as the sophomore raced to the end zone to complete a 73-yard scoring play. Ahead 13-12, Fultondale’s Register decided to go for a 2-point conversion. Smith hit split end Ryan Randall in the end zone for the conversion and the Wildcats had a 15-12 lead late in the first half.

The Blue Devils would take the lead back on the next play from scrimmage, as McNatt and Lindsey teamed up again, this time for a 81-yard score to regain the lead at 18-15, just seconds before the first half ended.

The Wildcats defense dominated the Falkville offense in the second half, allowing zero yards rushing in the final two quarters, and giving up the only points of the half with just 17 seconds left to play in the contest. For the game, the Wildcat defense held Falkville to only 11 yards rushing on 28 attempts.

“Our defense took over the game after halftime,” Register said. “We challenged our offense to play harder in the second half, but the defense really came out and took it to Falkville.”

Late the third period, the Wildcats started an 80-yard drive that would allow Fultondale to take the lead back. The march ended on a 2-yard run by Johnthan Craig with 10:28 to play in the game. With Carlsen’s point-after, the Wildcats were back in front by three at 21-18.

Craig would finish the contest with a game-high 128 yards rushing on 26 carries.

With less than four minutes to play, Craig’s 53-yard punt to the Falkville 5-yard line pinned the Blue Devils deep in their own end. Then the Wildcat defense forced a turnover on downs at the Falkville 1-yard line.

“Our kicking game was super tonight,” Register said. “We made all our point-after kicks and the punt to pin them deep was a big play, too.”

Craig scored his second touchdown of the game on the first play following the turnover on downs. With the point-after, Fultondale lead 29-18 with 1:20 to play. Falkville added a late scoring pass to make the final 29-24.

Mixon finished with 127 total yards, rushing for 54 yards on 11 carries in addition to the 73-yard scoring reception. As a team, Fultondale ran for 223 yards on 53 carries.

Smith finished 3-of-7 for 90 yards and one score.

On defense, senior middle linebacker Jordan “Joe Joe” Fowler had eight tackles and recovered a fumble. Freshman defensive end Christian McCollough had seven tackles and a quarterback sack for a loss of 11 yards. J.D. Hood added five tackles, Smith had an interception and Jared Anderson recovered another Falkville fumble.

The defense limited McNatt to only a 7-of-23 passing night.

“We became a close-knit family tonight,” Register said. “We pulled together when we got behind. I hate to lose and our seniors hate to lose, I think the whole team has bought into our thinking and now all the young guys hate to lose, too. It’s getting contagious. Our guys just never gave up.”

The Wildcats will play their first home game of the season next week when they host Cleveland in another key region matchup.

“I hope the whole community of Fultondale is there,” Register said. “These kids are working hard and they’re an exciting bunch to watch. I hope a really big crowd is there to support them.”