Staff Reports
Connor Kinsley intercepted a pass in the end zone at the 1:06 mark en route to Fort Payne’s 14-7 Class 6A, Region 8 finale win against Buckhorn at Tommy R. Ledbetter Stadium in New Market last Friday.
The Wildcats opened the scoring on its first possessions as Kaden Dubose ran for a 56-yard touchdown in the opening quarter.
A few plays later, Buckhorn answered as Shammarion Landrum rushed for a touchdown with just two minutes left of the first.
Tied, the two battled for dominance that led to a series of fumbles before the Wildcats pushed Jake Barnes into the end zone on third-and-goal from the 1-yard line lifting Fort Payne ahead 14-7 at the half.
Kaden Dubose finished with 17 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown for Fort Payne. Bennet Blanks led the Wildcats’ defense with 8.5 tackles and Alex Akins with 5 tackles. Dax Varnadore had 18 passing yards, and Fort Payne finished with 180 total yards, 22 passing yards, and 158 rushing yards.
With the win, the Wildcats moved to a 7-1 overall record and 4-1 in the region, securing the Region 8-second seed behind Gadsden City and will host the first round of Class 6A state playoffs.
Fort Payne travels to Athens for a Class 6A, the non-region matchup on Friday.
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