A Cullman player returns a kick during Friday's region finale against Muscle Shoals.

Fourth-ranked Muscle Shoals made it a Senior Night to forget for Cullman, as the Trojans trounced the home-standing Bearcats 43-3 Friday in the Class 6A, Region 8 finale for both teams.

The win meant a clean sweep of the region slate for Muscle Shoals (9-0, 6-0). Despite the loss, Cullman (6-3, 3-3) squeaked into the playoffs at the No. 4 spot in the region by way of an Austin triumph over Hartselle and a Decatur victory against Florence.

The Bearcats will travel to No. 1 Clay-Chalkville on Nov. 6.

Muscle Shoals showed exactly how wide of a gap there is between the Nos. 1 and 4 spots in the region at Oliver Woodard Stadium on Friday night. Running back Carlos Davis ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns to key a Trojan offense that appeared in cruise control most of the night.

Quarterback Landon Smothers, a Kennesaw State commit, didn’t throw much but capably led the Muscle Shoals misdirection — combined with a sometimes downhill — running attack to 212 yards. Smothers had 85 yards on the ground and a score.

For the game, the Trojans outgained the Bearcats 252-199.

One of the reasons there wasn’t more of a disparity in the offensive production between the two was because of big special teams plays by Muscle Shoals and a pair of turnovers for Cullman. The Trojans needed just 15 plays and 93 yards on four possessions to score 26 first-half points.

Muscle Shoals’ first touchdown of the night — a 23-yard run by Davis — was set up a failed fake punt attempt by the Bearcats.

After Isaac Rodriguez gave Cullman its only points of the night on a 22-yard field goal late in the first quarter, Trey Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards to set the Trojans up deep in Bearcat territory. It took only five plays to reach paydirt, as it was Davis again scoring on an 8-yard run.

Then, after forcing one of seven three-and-outs for Cullman, Muscle Shoals got a 69-yard punt return from Dwan Smith to put the Trojans at the 9. Only three plays later, Smothers found a leaping Wesley Mitchell in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard score.

Two possessions later, Cullman fumbled inside its own 30. That led to a 10-yard Smothers scamper into the end zone with 5:13 remaining in the second quarter. That play made what would be the halftime score at 26-3.

It was more of the same in the second half. The Trojans got touchdowns from Doc Wells and Reggie Goodloe as well as a 28-yard field goal from Braden Galowitch. Goodloe’s touchdown was set up by an interception by Caleb Felton — a Middle Tennessee State commitment.

Cullman did not move the ball in the second half until the Trojan starters were pulled out at the start of the fourth quarter. The Bearcats reached as far as the Muscle Shoals 40-yard line before a drive stalled.

For Cullman, Ezra Burks had a team-high 41 yards on 11 carries. Quarterback Ross Crocker finished the night 14 of 25 for 91 yards.

It was the fifth straight loss for Cullman against Muscle Shoals, which pulled even in the all-time series dating back to 1986.