Cullman fought valiantly until the final whistle Friday night but ultimately came up just short against Athens, 34-28.

The Bearcats (3-4, 1-2 in Class 6A, Region 7) found themselves trailing 21-0 before a 12-yard touchdown pass from Tanner Gaines to Wyatt Buchanan put the home team on the board just before halftime. The deficit held after the Black and Gold blocked a field goal as time ran out.

Both squads traded offensive blows in a back-and-forth second half.

Sam Mayhair recorded a pair of short touchdown runs — sandwiched in the middle was an Athens TD pass — to pull Cullman to within 28-21 with 11:33 left in the game.

The Golden Eagles (5-1, 2-1) notched their final touchdown with 6:27 remaining to make it 34-21, but the Bearcats didn’t fold up shop.

Gaines connected with Buchanan once again — this time from 10 yards out — at the 1:34 mark and the home team followed up the score by recovering an onside kick.

Unfortunately for Cullman, though, Athens came up with a game-sealing interception moments later.

The Bearcats will travel to Columbia next week.