By By Tracy Jones – special to the standard
Terez Lane scored four of the seven T.R. Miller Tiger touchdowns as the Tigers welcomed Cottage Hill Christian to class 3A region one Alabama High School Athletic Association football with a 48-19 win Friday night in Brewton.
With the win, T.R. Miller went to 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in region play as Cottage Hill fell to 0-2 and 0-1 in region play.
The Tigers scored 28 second quarter points after a 7-7 tie to end the first quarter and 13 more in the third quarter en route to the 29-point win.
“We are awfully proud to win, but the big thing is we got to play everyone tonight,” T.R. Miller Tiger head coach Jamie Riggs said. “We had good offense, a little slow at the start, but broke they broke out in the second quarter with some big plays. Defense had some big plays with interceptions converted to touchdowns.”
The Tigers racked up 378 total yards on offense and held Cottage Hill to just 186 on the night.
Miller was slow to start ending the first quarter 7-7 with Cottage Hill. The Tigers wasted no time in the second quarter showing the Warriors who would dominate their field. Less than eight seconds into the quarter Matt Lane burst down the left sidelines for 34-yard touchdown run. Seventeen seconds later, on the second play of the Warrior's drive, Cortez Banks picked off a pass running it 24 yards for the touchdown.
Cottage Hill then tried to advance the ball from the 50-yard line, but Kenneth Fountain nailed Warrior D'Ambro Chapman in the backfield for a loss of five yards.
Then Devin Nicholson stopped Cottage Hill quarterback, John Lawson in his tracks. The Warriors were forced to punt. Miller took the field at the 25-yard line. Will Riggs lost no time, he faked right to Cortez Banks, then threw 75 yards to Terez Lane for a touchdown. Cottage Hill received the kick off at the 22-yard line. After three plays Trey Cockrell managed to plow through for a gain of 11 yards. Bradley McCreary shut the Warriors down with an interception on the 29-yard line running it back to the 47. Terez Lane drove straight down the middle for the 47-yard touchdown run. Cottage Hill took the ball on the 40-yard line. The Tiger defense only allowed a gain of 6 yards on 4 plays. Miller took possession of the ball on the 34. Anthony Herbert and David Ikner rushed the ball down in six plays down to the 6-yard line. Miller's field goal attempt went wide to the left. Cottage Hill took possession of the ball midfield and was quickly intercepted on a blooper by Harrison Horton. The Tigers were unable to score and punted to end the half with a 35-7 lead.
Warrior Thomas Northcutt returned the kickoff to the 31-yard line to start the third quarter. D'Ambro Chatman took a loss of one yard in the next play when faced with the solid wall of Tiger defenders. 23 seconds into the second half Terez Lane snatched a screen pass intended for Thomas Northcutt and flew 30 yards down the line for the touchdown. Increasing Miller's lead to 42-7. Northcutt returned the kickoff to the 40-yard line for Cottage Hill. Chatman managed to gain 10 yards on the next play to put the Warriors on the 30-yard line. Northcutt was brought down hard by Terez lane after catching a 5-yard pass. Cortez Banks and Terez Lane sandwiched Barrtett Negus when he received a 13-yard pass. John Lawson sneaked around the left side for an eight-yard touchdown run. Cortez Banks and Mabry Cook blocked the Warriors extra point attempt.
Tiger Brandon Jackson returned the kickoff to the 37-yard line. Miller elected to punt after four downs. Cottager Hill took over the ball midfield.
Dalton Jackson caught a screen pass up the middle to place the Warriors on the 30-yard line. John Lawson recovered a fumbled ball for a loss of 15 yards. Malcolm McMillan assisted by Brandon Jackson sacked Lawson for another 3-yard loss.
Cottage Hill punted out of bounds placing the ball on the 40-yard line. Will Riggs put up the ball for a 40-yard touchdown pass to Terez Lane with 2:30 second left in the third quarter.
Cottage Hill blocked the extra point. Northcutt returned the kickoff to the 35-yard line. Chapman plowed through Miller defense to gain 11 yards. Two plays later Lawson was looking to connect with Austin Burch, but Corey Rilling picked the ball of and ran to the 40-yard line. The Tigers had increased their lead to 48-13 at the end of the third quarter.
Jaren Jackson ran down to the 15-yard line to get the fourth quarter started for Miller. Jackson gained another 2 yards on the next play. The Tigers stalled on the 13-yard line with a fumble recovered by Conner Denton. Miller failed to convert and Cottage hill took possession on the 8-yard line.
Rilling ran Warrior Cockrell out of bounds after a 12 yard run on the first play of the series. Caleb McNally and Kyle Templeton teamed up to sack Lawson for a loss of 11 yards. Lawson was unable to complete the next to passes. Cottage Hill punted the ball. Tiger Anthony Herbert mishandled the ball. Cottage Hill recovered the ball at the 50-yard line.
Warrior Jessie Chatman drove through the line for a 15-yard gain. A trio of Miller defenders stopped Northcutt in his tracks.
Lawson went over the middle to connect with Negus for a 30-yard touchdown pass. Miller denied Cottage Hill their two-point conversion attempt. Telvin Spears returned the kickoff for the Tigers to the 35-yard line. Miller ended the fourth quarter on top 48-19.