Guntersville took advantage of Hayden turnovers and special-teams issues, as the visiting Wildcats beat the host Wildcats 26-10 in the second round of the AHSAA Class 5A football playoffs.

It was the first time in Hayden’s history that they played host in a second-round game — indeed, it was their first appearance at this level of the post-season since 2002. But despite holding a 10-6 lead late in the third quarter, Hayden could not hold off second-ranked Guntersville late in the proceedings.

Hayden took the opening kick off and drove inside the Guntersville 5-yard line, but had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Patrick Ward midway of the first quarter.

Guntersville answered with a field goal of their own less than three minutes later from Wolls Joycelyn, who was good from from 35 yards away. Then after Hayden’s first turnover of the night, Joycelyn put Guntersville up 6-3 midway through the second period, and that score held until halftime.

Hayden’s Cody Colvin blocked a 28-yard Joycelyn field goal attempt with 9:33 remaining in the third quarter. The hosts then took their first lead on an 8-yard run by Blake Adams. Ward’s point after gave Hayden a 10-6 with 3:49 left in the period.

But Guntersville took the lead back for good when Major Henderson connected with Pierre Henderson for 36 yards and a touchdown with 2:18 in the third.

The visitors added touchdowns to pad the lead. Henderson hit Chris Skinner for 26 yards, following a late interception conceded by Hayden. Then Jordan Bentley scored from the Hayden 1 to finish the night.

Adams led the Hayden rushing game with 20 carries for 119 yards. Leonard Johnson added 73 yards on 13 carries, while Colton Shirley added 72 yards on nine rushes.

Jeremy Standfield led the Hayden defense with six tackles, one for loss. Travis Putman added five tackles with three for losses and a sack, and Levi Snider had five tackles, two for loss plus a sack.

The loss ends Hayden’s season with an 8-4 record, the best by far in coach Keith Register’s three-year tenure. Guntersville (12-0) moves on to the quarterfinals; they will travel to No. 8 Mortimer Jordan, which defeated seventh-ranked Wenonah 30-20 on Friday.