By Deunte Marshall/Sports Correspondent
Hayden Moore’s touchdown run on the first play of overtime propelled No. 2 Clay Chalkville to a 21-14 win over visiting Gadsden City last Friday in a Class 6A, Region game.
“We fought hard and gave them all they could handle tonight,” said GCHS head coach Joe Billingsley. “The penalties killed us, and that’s just something we need to cut down on if we want to win any games.”
The Titans’ plan was to get their speedy receivers the ball in space, and quarterback C.J Moore did just that when he hit LeGerald Malone for a 16-yard reception on the first play of the game.
The drive ended with a punt, but the GCHS defense soon forced and recovered a fumble. The Titan offense capitalized on the turnover when Trevor Sandridge scored from six yards out to give Gadsden City (4-3, 3-2) a 7-0 lead with 8:09 remaining in the first quarter.
Blake Worthy intercepted a Cougar pass with 9:43 remaining in the half, but Clay-Chalkville got an interception of its own by Adam White with 3:54 left.
The Cougars (7-0, 5-0) tied the game at 7-7 on the next play on a 75-yard pass and score from Moore to Terelle West with 3:15 to go at the half.
The third quarter featured quick scoring drives from both teams.
It took Clay-Chalkville just two plays to find the end zone.
An 80-yard pitch and catch from Moore to Brian Clark put the hosts deep inside Titan territory, and West finished off the drive with a nine-yard scoring run with 7:13 remaining in the third.
But an exciting kick return from Malone started the Titans on the Cougar 47-yard line, and a quick 44-yard strike from Moore to Malone moved GCHS inside the Clay-Chalkville 10.
Moore capped the series with a nine-yard TD run to tie the game at 14-14 with 6:28 to go in the third.
Gadsden City put together a 14-play drive that made it to the Cougar 6, but the Titans came up empty on a missed field goal attempt.
Moore was 10-of-26 in passing for 103 yards.
Malone led in receiving yards with 60 yards, while Sandridge led the rushing attack with 78 yards
Gadsden City continues region play on Friday against Grissom in the Titans’ homecoming game.