PREP FOOTBALL: Bearcats take another title

Published 11:43 pm Thursday, October 8, 2009

SPRINGVILLE — Jeremy who?

More like non-factor.

That’s exactly what Jeremy Richardson was Thursday night.

Richardson, a highly-touted wide receiver prospect from Springville High, only caught two passes for 18 yards as top-ranked Cullman beat the Tigers 48-21 to clinch its third straight Class 5A, Region 6 title.

Not exactly what you would expect from a four-star prospect that’s committed to Auburn. He only had one reception for two yards when Cullman (7-0, 7-0) took its defensive starters out late in the third quarter, after all.

Richardson didn’t play like one of the state’s top players, but Cullman running back Ben Moore did. The Bearcats junior rushed for a season-high 221 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries, leading an offense that piled up more than 400 total yards.

Moore had three runs go for more than 35 yards — two of them for more than 50. He also caught two passes for 27 yards.

“Our offensive line really played well tonight,” Moore said. “Those guys really opened things up, made a lot happen. And when I got into the secondary, the wet field kind of gave me a little bit of an advantage when making cuts. It helped me make people miss.”

Cullman has put together four consecutive dominant performances, a stretch that began with a lopsided win over Curry. The Bearcats have beaten Mortimer Jordan, Erwin and Springville in that span.

Does that mean the Bearcats are peaking?

“We’re playing our best football of the season right now,” Moore said. “But peaking? I don’t think so. This team can still play better. I’m sure of that.”

Springville may have a hard time believing that. Cullman dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, handing the Tigers one of their most lopsided losses of the season.

Cullman raced to out to a 27-0 lead in the first half.

After Connor Adams and Moore scored on runs of 4 and 3 yards respectively, Bearcats quarterback Dylan Skipper threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Drew Forrest.

Moore followed with a 52-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.

Springville scored once in the first half on a 30-yard run by star running back DeMarcus Tremble, who finished with 106 yards on 10 carries.

Moore scored two more times in the second half on runs of 9 and 52 yards. Skipper also threw another touchdown pass, hitting Forrest on a 65-yard completion.

Skipper finished 8-for-11 passing, piling up 239 yards with no interceptions.

“That guy has done an outstanding job,” Bearcats coach Mark Britton said of his first-year starting quarterback. “He’s done a great job of managing games, just like he did tonight. You can’t ask for much more than that.

“I’ve been really pleased with our quarterback play.”

Skipper completed passes to four different receivers. Forrest finished with 140 yards on five catches. Riley Stewart had one catch for 20 yards and Adams had a reception for 52 yards.

Cullman’s offensive numbers were gaudy. Springville’s were not.

But that’s been a trend for Cullman’s opponents in recent weeks. The Bearcats’ starting defense has only given up four offensive touchdowns in the last four games.

“We’re just emphasizing our pass rush, trying to do a better job of getting to the quarterback,” said senior defensive end Jonathan Robertson, who finished with two sacks. “And our linebackers are doing a really good job of stepping up and stopping the run.

“The way we’re playing now, it’s what we expected from ourselves earlier in the year. I think we’re playing our best football of the season right now.”

Springville quarterback Josh Gibson scored on a 10-yard run early in the third quarter. After Cullman intentionally took a safety with eight seconds remaining in the game, the Tigers returned the ensuing kickoff to score a touchdown on the final play of the game.

Cullman hosts Brewer in another Region 6 contest next Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Justin Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 257 or by e-mail at jgraves@cullmantimes.com.