Justin Graves

The Cullman Times



CULLMAN — Halloween came a little early for Cullman High’s football team.

After all, Gardendale gave the Bearcats their first official scare since 27-21 win over Erwin in the third week of the season.

With Cullman’s backs against the wall in the fourth quarter, the Bearcats needed a late touchdown and a defensive stop deep in their own territory to beat Gardendale 35-28 and avoid a potential upset Friday night at Oliver Woodard Stadium.

By scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half, Gardendale tied the score midway through the fourth quarter and appeared to have Cullman (9-0, 7-0 Class 5A, Region 6) pushed into a corner.

But that’s when the Bearcats responded.

Behind a couple of big gains from running back Michael Timmons, Cullman drove the football deep into Gardendale territory late in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Tyler Caldwell followed with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Ellis to give the Bearcats a seven-point lead.

Even though Cullman stole Gardendale’s momentum, the Rockets weren’t ready to lay down just yet. Quarterback Cameron Brewer helped lead Gardendale’s offense across midfield before the Rockets turned the football over on downs at the Cullman 29-yard line with just over two minutes remaining in the game.

“We had to turn it up a notch in the second half,” Cullman head coach Mark Britton said. “We came out of the locker room just a little bit lax and had some breakdowns in the third quarter. But we came back and battled to get that last touchdown.

“We had to step it up late in the game. Our kids take it personal. They put a lot of work and time into it, so they weren’t ready to hang it up.”

Friday night’s game was a tale of two halves. Cullman dominated Gardendale in the first half while building a 28-7 lead.

After Brewer hit Dallas Tidwell on a 32-yard touchdown pass early in the first quarter, Cullman tied the score back up when Timmons ran 74 yards for a touchdown.

Cullman took a 14-point lead after Timmons scored on runs of 11 and four yards, and the Bearcats extended the lead to 28-7 halftime when Caldwell hit Christopher Fischer on a 15-yard touchdown pass. Will Barnes kicked all five of Cullman’s point after’s.

Gardendale tied the score in the second half when Byron Sasser ran for a 22-yard touchdown, Roscoe Ragland ran 18 yards for a touchdown and Brewer hit Bobby Williams on a 78-yard touchdown pass.

Timmons led Cullman offensively, rushing for 205 yards and recording 245 yards of total offense. The Bearcats rolled up 424 yards of total offense in the win.

Brewer led Gardendale’s offense by completing 8-of-15 passes for 181 yards.

Even though Gardendale dropped Friday’s nights game, the Rockets should still take the No. 4 playoff seed in Class 5A, Region 6 since Springville upset Mortimer Jordan.