NWA Sports

HALEYVILLE – The Haleyville Lions came out on top 43-15 in Friday night’s preseason jamboree, but it was the Phil Campbell Bobcats’ varsity team that took a last second victory over the Lions in the first half of play. Second half featured B-team play.

The Lions scored midway into the first quarter, but a holding penalty negated the six points and put the Lions at the Phil Campbell 48-yard line.

Quarterback Drew Whiteside completed a 17-yard pass to junior receiver Vaughn Whiteside for a first down at the Bobcat 31.

An illegal procedure penalty backed the Lions up five yards, but Whiteside connected a smooth shuffle pass to Jacob Kennedy for nine yards.

A 3-yard completion to DeVaughn Terrell set up a first down play to Destin Dye at the 17.

The Lions reversed the action to Jeremy White, who went down to the 1-yard line, but a clipping penalty pushed the Lions back to the 16.

Dye carried down to the 8, where White score with 1:37 left in the first period. Brett Bryson kicked the PAT to make the score 7-0.

The Lions held the Bobcats on the next drive to take possession at midfield.

After a short 2-yard gain by Whiteside, Dye found the right sideline open down to the Phil Campbell 33.

A fumble on the snap lost eight yards on the next play, but White scooted around the right end to the 17. Two plays later, White was at the 3-yard line, where Dye took the ball in to score with 6:46 left in the second quarter. Bryson’s PAT made the score 14-0.

The Lions intercepted a pass at the Haleyville 15 in the next series, but a controversial pass interference call, gave the ball back to the Bobcats and an automatic first down.

Quarterback Jordan Benford handed off to Corey Anderson for a yard gain, but senior Daniel Bryant gave Phil Campbell a first-and-goal at the 4 with 2:19 left in the second quarter of play.

Dylan Hamby moved the ball three yards and an offside penalty against the Lions put the ball inside the 1.

Bryant muscled it in for the score, with 1:38 left. The PAT by Adam Mitchell made the score 14-7.

The Lions were forced to punt on the next possession, putting the Bobcats at their own 27-yard line.

Benford gave his team a first down on a keeper at the Phil Campbell 37, where he completed a pass to Matt Waid at the Haleyville 30.

Benford went to the air again and hit Bryant for the TD, with 20 seconds remaining on the clock. The Bobcats went for two, with Bryant scoring the two points, taking a 15-14 win in varsity action.

It was a different story in the second half, with Haleyville’s B-team putting 29 points on the board.

The Bobcats took the opening kickoff, but a fumble gave the Lions possession at the Phil Campbell 24.

Freshman Ladarius Brown took the ball in for the touchdown, with less than a minute gone on the clock. The PAT was no good, but the Lions led 20-15.

The Bobcats fumbled on the second play of the following drive, giving the ball to the Haleyville at the Phil Campbell 34.

Hayden Pugh rolled to the right, but turned back left to scamper the 34 yards for the touchdown. The PAT was good to make the score 27-15 with 9:46 gone in the third quarter.

The Lions put the ball in the end zone with 5:15 left in the game, under the direction of sophomore quarterback Jeff Dodd. Dustin Whitten and Dodd carried on three plays to the Phil Campbell 27, where Tyler McVoy scored the touchdown. A 2-point conversion pass to Dylan Burleson gave the Lions a 35-15 lead.

The Bobcats punted in the next series to put the Lions at their own 27.

Whitten took the ball in on the first play of the drive to score, with 1:35 remaining. A completion to Jared Engle gave the Lions a 43-15 victory.

Cameron Collier intercepted a pass on the last play of the game for the Lions.

In other preseason action, Meek defeated Mount Hope, Winston County beat Lynn, Addison beat Parrish and Phillips beat Hubbertville.

This week’s local schedule: Mount Hope at Phillips (Thursday), Haleyville at Central-Florence, Fultondale at Addison, East Lawrence at Phil Campbell, Winston County at Lawrence County, Hackleburg at Meek and Lynn at Parrish.