The start couldn’t have been any more different than last year’s game.

By halftime, the new guy at quarterback was looking more comfortable than ever.

And when it was over, Cullman High’s football team had pulled itself within one game of another region title.

All just another day at the office for the top-ranked team in Class 5A, except for one little thing: the last time the Bearcats lost in Region 6 play, it was also the last time they were ranked No. 1 — and it came against Erwin, Friday night’s opponent.

“Last year we got the No. 1 ranking and I think we let it get to our heads a little,” said Cullman senior Connor Adams, who had an 88-yard touchdown reception in the Bearcats’ 42-16 win at Oliver Woodard Stadium. “We started thinking we could show up and win, but they beat us. So we wanted to come out and not have a repeat.”

That part was taken care of early, thanks in part to some solid play from first-year starting quarterback Dylan Skipper.

The junior led Cullman on a nine-play, 73-yard touchdown drive on its opening possession, which ended with Adams’ 1-yard scoring run. After forcing an Erwin three-and-out, Skipper and Drew Forrest connected on a 28-yard strike to put the Bearcats up 12-0.

It was a reversal from last season’s game in Center Point, where the Eagles took an early lead and held on to beat Cullman 25-20.

“After last year’s embarrassing loss, we wanted to come out and show them what we can do,” said Forrest, who finished with a team-high 160 yards on nine receptions.

Skipper played a big role in the turnaround. Looking more comfortable in the pocket than at any other time this season, the junior completed 18 of 27 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns.

Skipper threw one touchdown pass each to Forrest, Adams and running back Ben Moore, who finished with 77 yards and another score on 15 carries.

Senior wideout Riley Stewart added 55 yards on four receptions.

“I think with experience comes confidence,” said Skipper. “Seeing Connor, Drew and Riley going after passes makes me feel much better back there.”

It’s not just Skipper feeling more confident. With each passing week, Cullman’s experienced receiving corps becomes more comfortable with the first-year starter.

“He works real hard in practice,” said Forrest, a first-team All-State selection in 2008. “He takes some criticism sometimes, but he’s been great for us.”

With the victory, Cullman clinched no worse than a tie for first place in the Region 6 standings. At 6-0 in the region, the Bearcats are two games ahead of Erwin, Springville, Walker and Mortimer Jordan.

Cullman, which has won 20 of its last 21 region games, can clinch its third straight title outright with a win next week at Springville.

“Coach told us before the game that this was for a region championship,” said Forrest. “We really stressed that we’ve got to win it to win the region.”

To go about getting the win, Britton emphasized the physical side of the game this week in practice. To drive the point home, the Bearcats coach showed his team film of last season’s loss, which Erwin dominated physically.

“We showed them the film just because of how disgusted we were in how physical we played — or the lack of it,” said Britton. “We made sure we were going to be physical on both sides of the ball.”

Michael Cummings can be reached by email at michaelc@cullmantimes.com or by phone at 734-2131, ext. 258.