Photo: Gadsden City’s Ty Sims (left) and Dre Kirkpatrick, Jr. tackle Mae Jemison’s Darreon Taylor during the Titans’ 42-13 victory in high school football on Oct. 13 at GCHS. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
Dre Kirkpatrick, Jr., acted as a jack of all trades for the Gadsden City High football team on October 13.
The senior safety/running back/punt returner scored three touchdowns – one receiving, one on a punt return and one on a pick-six – to help the Titans post a 42-13 victory over Mae Jemison at GCHS.
The win, which moved Gadsden City to 5-3 overall and 4-0 in the region, clinched a share of the Class 6A, Region 8 championship. The Titans will win the region outright if they defeat Lee-Huntsville this Friday (Oct. 20).
Gadsden City scored six straight touchdowns after Mae Jemison took an early 7-0 lead on Darreon Taylor’s 35-yard touchdown run. The Titans got things going with Luke Waldrop’s nine-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Worthy.
Midway through the second quarter, Kirkpatrick picked off a pass and took it 85 yards to the house to give GCHS the lead for good.
Early in the second half, Kirkpatrick and Waldrop teamed up for a 26-yard TD pass, while Waldrop’s 20-yard touchdown strike to Matthew Sparks made it 28-7 in favor of the hosts.
The Titans added some insurance in the fourth quarter on Worthy’s six-yard touchdown run, while Kirkpatrick added a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown for good measure.
Worthy finished with 86 rushing yards on 14 carries. Waldrop was 10 for 18 in passing for 112 yards, while Sparks had for receptions for 54 yards.
Chris Butler had nine tackles, followed by Ty Sims with seven, Kirkpatrick with five and Taylor Barber with four.
